The Dipstick Doesn't Lie-Episode46.m4a

Hello, everyone! Welcome back to the Set Her Free podcast. I'm your host, Dana Lyons. Today, I want to shift our focus a bit but remain on a topic that's close to my heart. I want to discuss those moments in life when we face crises—moments when life throws unexpected challenges our way, requiring all our attention and energy. 

It's normal to experience these crises; we all encounter them. However, when these stressful periods extend beyond two or three weeks, we can find ourselves entering what I like to call "survival mode." During these times, we are often expending more energy than we have to spare, leading us to wake up feeling increasingly depleted. I hear it from many people: overwhelmed, cranky, exhausted, unfocused, and negative. These chronic issues affect us both mentally and physically.

This leads me to share a story that I believe illustrates a valuable lesson. As someone who isn’t adept with cars, I’ve always relied on others—my family—who are skilled in that area. I know the basics, like getting an oil change, but I often avoid the details due to fear and insecurity. 

For instance, my son Justin faced a crisis while driving—his car was overheating. He wasn’t checking his dashboard regularly, which was a critical learning moment. It made me realize that just like cars, we need to check in with ourselves regularly. 

Frequent car maintenance can be analogous to self-care. I've noticed that when one car breaks down, others quickly follow, making it a stressful experience. My family isn’t one for trading in old cars; we typically drive them until they can’t go anymore, leading to scheduling nightmares with mechanics. 

One particular incident highlighted the importance of this analogy for me: my daughter took my car to the mechanic, who revealed some alarming news. I was over 20,000 miles overdue for an oil change! I reassured my daughter that this couldn't be possible, though we explored the possibility that my car—the one often used as a backup—may have been neglected in the process of caring for everyone else's vehicles. 

This scenario brought a significant revelation to light: as caregivers, we often prioritize everyone else’s needs over our own. How often do we forget to refuel ourselves, to engage in self-care? Think about it—when was the last time you took a moment for yourself, visited your doctor, or simply allowed yourself some downtime?

Just as your car needs its oil changed to keep running smoothly, we need to recharge and refuel ourselves. Neglecting our own well-being not only affects us but also those around us. It's essential to recognize when we are running low and make adjustments before we face a breakdown.

We all have moments when we feel overwhelmed and unfocused, and it’s important to take action before these issues accumulate. Create a habit of checking in on your "dashboard"—are you feeling balanced? Are your emotional and physical needs being met? 

So, as we wrap up today, I encourage each of you to reflect on your self-care practices. Just as we diligently maintain our cars, we must also prioritize our well-being. Take steps to ensure you are not running on empty. It’s time to find your balance and give yourself permission to refuel!

Thank you for joining me today. I hope this story resonates with you and inspires you to prioritize your self-care. Until next time, take care! **Caring for Yourself: The Importance of Intentional Health Maintenance**

It’s interesting how we often prioritize the health of our cars over our own well-being. Recently, I discovered that my car had over 20,000 miles since its last oil change, and the dipstick was completely dry. This shocked me; I had been neglecting to track my car’s maintenance while ensuring my family’s health. Just as we monitor ou