Self-care may be a word we use every day, but what does it actually mean?
That’s the question Chloe Pierre, founder of “disruptive wellness platform brand” thy.self and author of the new book “Take Care: The Black Women’s Guide To Wellness,” started asking about five years ago. is.
“Overwork and a lot of pressure”, challenges in personal life and “a lot of partying” didn’t help – and a series of “critical moments” (including the onset of the dreaded sleep paralysis) meant it was time to start better treatment. Take care of yourself as it becomes clear that you have come.
However, Pierre, who had just turned 30 at the time and was working in PR and digital marketing, realized he didn’t know how to do that.
“It’s been a journey of learning and rediscovering what that is, because I wasn’t taught how to take care of myself in that sense,” she explained over Zoom. “It’s always been an outward, outgoing option. Make sure you do your hair and look good.”
Having a health wake-up call is something many of us can relate to. But for Pierre, what started as a personal journey quickly became something much bigger. She began accessing the welfare spaces she was provided with and she “quickly realized that I was often the only Black, plus-size person in the room.”
Not only was the wellness world very white, it seemed to package self-care into something very exclusive and expensive, catering to an overwhelmingly slim, cis, middle-class clientele.
This led her to found thy.self (thyself.space) in 2018 with the goal of “diversifying the wellness industry” and making self-care more inclusive, approachable, and welcoming for Black women. I did. In addition to running events, workshops, and content creation, thy.self works with brands looking to achieve their own diversity goals (we’ve collaborated with Nike, ASOS, Samsung, and more). And it has evolved and grown over time, Pierre points out.
“When I started creating myself, I really wanted to drive change and change people’s perceptions. But years later, we’ve gone through COVID, we’ve gone through lockdown. “And then I became a mother and went through a lot of different experiences, but it made me realize that you can’t change anyone’s mind,” she recalls. .
“I’ve been on this journey to break through the wellness industry, and I still want to do it, but I know it starts with me. So I envisioned the life I wanted to lead and I’m selective about the environment I want to be in. And I’ve not only created a safe space for myself, but I’ve also created a safe space for like-minded people who want to be there.”
At the heart of this is a thriving community.
“Community is everything,” says Pierre. “I truly believe that the work we do as individuals, but also the work we do as individuals, can also build the broader community. I wouldn’t have done any of this if it wasn’t for the community. It’s my biggest driving force.
“Community has a greater purpose. No movement was created by one person. I never want credit for things. I just want to see change, because it’s about other people. Because it means being happy, being safe, and feeling seen. That’s the joy for me.”
A lot of it is about sharing ideas and options for self-care without “commodifying everything.” Not only does it celebrate cultural heritage and the origins of many health practices, it also, in Pierre’s words, “gives credit where credit is due.”
These are all themes she explores in this book along with her own journey. Take Care also features Pierre consulting with a variety of experts and diving into some key areas, including impostor syndrome, grief and loss, authenticity, motherhood, and Black beauty, and creating stories and prompts along the way. share.
Although essentially a guide, Pierre is not here to tell anyone “how” to do self-care. Rather, it focuses on empowering Black women in their own journeys, “recognizing” their needs, and “offering options” to welcome and celebrate them.
For Pierre, when it all started five years ago, getting to this point himself meant spending time alone.
“I think finding self-care for yourself is essentially going through a lot of solitude. Then you can find out what you like, what works for you, what you need. You can find it,” she says. “And sometimes they’re not even linked, and what you need and what you want are completely different things.
“Here’s what I’ve learned about happiness: Just as most truths are very uncomfortable to accept, happiness is actually sometimes very uncomfortable.” I associate it with becoming my own best friend, but it’s not an overnight job.”
Moreover, circumstances change.
“To be honest, for me, it’s still an ongoing journey” – and that includes the past two years spent writing this book, she says.
“I feel like I’m a completely different person than when I got the book offer, and my world and self-care was completely different then. I became a mother a year after accepting it, but it’s different. I’m still learning.”
So, what does self-care mean to Pierre now?
“I’m a big fan of massage. It really brings you back to who you are,” she says, but it’s also important to practice conscious breathing and gratitude (“When the cows come home”). (You can moan all you want, but you have so much to be grateful for. That’s the beauty of it.)” To be honest, I’ve come out of depression. ”)
And is there one thing that really lights her up?
“Being in nature…it’s free, it’s beautiful, and it will fill you in ways you never expected. You never know what you’re going to get. You could take the same route every time, but once you turn left… Or turn right and you’ll take a completely different path.
“And it’s a reminder of the simplicity of humanity and why we’re here, what is our purpose outside of buildings, jobs, relationships. It’s so grounding. .
“For me, that’s great.”
Take Care by Chloe Pierre is published by Headline and costs £22. Available now.
