Me First
What?
Created in 2008 by licensed Psychotherapist Denise M. Williams, Me First is a philosophy for Women of Color which teaches that taking care of one’s mind, body, and spiritual health comes first. It is only by putting “Me First” and prioritizing their own mental, physical, and spiritual health that women learn to authentically care for and love themselves in a deep and meaningful way; then, they can do the same for others.
Why?
Drawing on her personal experience, academic study, and clinical research – which all showed strong connections between Black women’s lack of positive self-care practices and negative health outcomes – Denise designed “Me First: The Art of Self-Care”, an interactive program designed to teach women to use self-care practices to improve their wellbeing.
Who?
While Black women are the United States most educated population and make up one of the fastest-growing groups of small business owners, our mental and physical health is in crisis. In nearly every measure of good health, Black women trail behind other women. We pay with for this disparity with our lives, dying at disproportionate rates from cancer, childbirth, heart disease, obesity, hypertension, domestic violence, and HIV/AIDS.
Me First believes there is a direct correlation between self-care and health outcomes, so we share what we know to help women create their own action plans to improve their health and quality of life.
How?
“Me First: The Art of Self-Care” workshops, live check-ins, and online activities help women examine their beliefs and experiences around self-worth, setting boundaries, self-compassion, and forgiveness; guide them in sharing their experiences, challenges and successes with self-care practices; and coach them in creating their own Me First action plan. The program will teach participants:
• How to distinguish between self-esteem and self-worth and the role both play in self-care
• How to set boundaries, and how to use this important process to find time for self-care
• How self-compassion is defined, the importance of the practice when participating in self-care and the link to forgiveness
• How forgiveness frees mental space and provides permission for you to engage in acts of kindness for self
• How to create and maintain a self-care plan
