One thing I hear all the time in my personal development studies is, "Love yourself." It seems that a healthy helping of self-love is basically the holy grail of all things self-actualization.
It seems so simple. Love yourself. Right. Got it! But... How do I know if I'm doing it right, or enough, and is there such a thing as loving ones self TOO much?
My OCD is showing. 😂 Think, rethink, overthink some more. Check!
Well, because I love you and I love myself (well, I'm at least trying to), I spent some time researching how to become better at self-love. Here's a couple quick tips...
1. Stop negative self-talk dead in its tracks. No more joining in on the "Oh I need to lose 20lbs." Or "OMG You won't BELIEVE the idiotic thing I said this morning!"
Want to lose 20lbs? Thats cool. But do it because you can't wait to feel stronger and healthier. Because you LOVE the one and only body you've been gifted. Don't keep verbally tearing your body apart. It doesn't help you feel good and it damn sure won't melt away the pounds. (Trust me, I've tried.)
Put your foot in your mouth this morning? Girl, shake that off. I am the QUEEN of saying the wrong thing to the wrong person at the worst possible time. (Ha! How's that for self-talk 😆) But you know what? It's time to EMBRACE the fact that we are HUMANS!
Developing relationships is what life is all about and within that process it is only natural to occasionally screw up. It is OK. Chances are, the person you said it to wasn't phased at all and still thinks you're a total rockstar. Hell, she was probably too busy worrying that she'd said something dumb to even notice! (Ladies, why do we do this to ourselves?)
2. Remember, you are here to be YOU. No one else. Think about your daughter, niece, friends little girl; any sweet tiny pig-tailed doll of a child you're connected with. Would you EVER tell her that she needed to be "skinny like Mary" or "funnier like Tina" so that people will like her? So that she can like herself? Would you intentionally share society's beauty standards with her?
Nope.
So don't do it to yourself. You ARE that gorgeous little girl. Perfect. Whole. Free of the expectations and opinions of people who just don't get it.
You are literally the ONLY person that will ever get to be uniquely you. There never has been and there never will be another person exactly like you.
That is powerful! Embrace that shit and SHINE!
Love yourself. Speak kindly to yourself. Be exactly who you are. Because YOU are pretty dang awesome.
Xoxo,
Marquesas
