The Relative Costs of Self-Care

I had a brief conversation the other day with a friend who was lamenting the high cost of psychotherapy. She felt guilty for spending so much money on what she calls monthly 'maintenance' or 'self-care'. I half jokingly pointed out that therapy is a lot cheaper than a drug habit (prescription or otherwise). So it's all relative.

I find it interesting that people will easily pay upwards of $100 a month for a local gym membership that they rarely use, $70 per hour for a personal trainer, $350 to an accountant to file their taxes, $75 a week for housecleaning, $20 a week on dry cleaning, etc. But they're not willing to pay anywhere near a fraction of those amounts for psychological, spiritual or emotional forms of 'self-care'.

The point that I'm trying to make is nothing new. Other bloggers have said the same thing much more eloquently than I ever could. But it's good to be reminded about the basics...namely, that it's important to invest in yourself first. Not just your education, career or physical health, but your emotional, spiritual and mental health as well. It's more than okay to spend some hard earned dollars to see a therapist, counselor or spiritual director if it'll help contribute to a more joyful, purpose driven or goal oriented life. Sure, your net worth will take a short term hit. But the long term rewards are priceless.