Millennial Instagram feeds are filled with the same insistent message of self-care, advocating for the simple pleasures and healthy habits we can bring into our lives in order to take better care of ourselves. From bubble-baths to digital-detoxes, self-care intends to be simple and accessible, but increasingly comes across as fussy, unattainable and exclusive. Self-care is important; it empowers us to cater to our own needs, but it is not the only form of care we require, especially if we are Catholic. In practicing faith and committing to a relationship with God, we make room for God to take care of us in addition to what we might do for ourselves. Through God’s love, we are reminded that no one can care for us better.
This longing to bring order into our lives while also remembering God’s care in the process, is part of the Christian tradition both in the present and in the past. Augustine’s Confessions recalls the journey of a fifth-century young man searching for a good life in the world. After many years, he finally realizes that God is integral to that sustenance: “When I seek for you, my God, my quest is for the happy life” (Confessions 109).
While the support of friendship, the peace of a good book and the bliss of time spent offline each rejuvenate our spirit and restore our energy, spirituality is a type of self-care that we do not have to shoulder all by ourselves, for God is right there with us, giving us the care we need for “the happy life.”
