“Self-care” is a topic that I’ve heard more and more of, and increasingly from a mental health perspective. I’ve struggled to consistently practice self-care in my own life, tending to push myself to the point of burnout rather than being compassionate. I have been influenced by all the spaces I have occupied as a carer, parent, worker and home-maker. I have realised that I am not alone and that we are more alike than different. To be human means that we all experience our fair share of joy and suffering which we internalise. I began to ask myself, why is self-care and wellness so important to so many people? Why has it become almost intuitive to do the counter-intuitive by being harsh and critical of ourselves?