When did taking care of ourselves become something we have to justify? I think many of us have become so accustomed to measuring our worth by how much we accomplish, how productive we are, and how much we do for others that we've forgotten something important. We matter, too.

The first step is noticing how your environment is affecting the way you live your life. How do you feel when you wake up in the morning? How do you feel at the end of the day? Do you look forward to being in your environment? Or do you feel drained by it? These questions aren't meant to create judgment. They're meant to create awareness. Because awareness is where change begins.

My yoga teacher once said to me, "You're very good at being busy." At the time, I wasn't quite sure what she meant. I thought I was simply doing what needed to be done—work, family, responsibilities, and all the things that fill our days. But as I've gotten older, I understand exactly what she was talking about.