“Self Love” is a term I keep hearing more and more of these days. It comes up a lot as a core issue with my self-care mentoring clients, and it seems like every health company and well-known teacher is touting its importance.
But what does it really mean to cultivate and practice self-love? Is it doing something nice for yourself? Is it going on a diet? Is it giving yourself a big hug? Or is it just another superficial buzzword to get you to buy bath salts?
In honor of this lovely month of February, I’ve decided to dedicate my posts to digging a little deeper into this whole self-love craze. I want to give you some actual tools to help you cultivate some real self-love and to tune into all of the love that is already there.
So each Sunday this month I will deliver a sweet little insight into creating some much needed self-love. Starting with today!
As with all new learnings, it’s good to start out with the why. Without the why, what’s the point of doing anything, really? So what’s the big deal with self-love? Why even care?
Well, we will all have our own unique answers, but here are a few ideas to get you going.
Relationship Therapy
It’s humbling, and downright annoying sometimes, to remember that most of our issues with other people happen to be issues with ourselves. You may disagree with me at first, but I would argue that if you really think about it you will see it on some level.
I’ve noticed it in my own life for sure. The happier I am with myself and my own issues, the happier my relationships are. The more open I am to new people. The more understanding I am when they actually do something wrong. The more space I have to receive love.
You might be amazed at how much checking yourself first can resolve and improve any issue you have with someone else.
Create Your Own Safe Space
There is so much happening in the world right now. So much disagreement and friction, on a micro level and macro level. There is only so much we can do in situations where we feel out of control, but when we have pure self-love, we create a space that is always safe and accepting.
And when we have that strong relationship with ourselves, we can share it. What a beautiful thing!
Coping Super Powers
Studies have shown that those that practice self-love and self-compassion have an easier time of overcoming life’s obstacles. It helps them with depression and anxiety, get out of difficult relationships and situations, and it can even help change negative habits.
When we are gentle with ourselves, when we operate from a space of love and understanding, it can be so much more effective than the negative chatter we tend to abuse ourselves with.
We will dig deeper into negative self-talk later this month, but think about it. Would you talk to a loved one the way you talk to yourself? Do harsh criticisms get you very far with other people? Probably not. So why do that with yourself?
Journal It Out
If you really want to take on the subject of Self Love with me this month, I invite you to do some journaling on your own to find out on a deep level where you are at with it all.
To help, here are some writing prompts to get you going:
1. What does the term ‘self-love’ mean to me?
2. What would improve in my life if I truly loved myself? How would I behave? Who would it affect?
3. What is one way I can practice self-love daily? What would really bring me joy?
I shall close with this lovely little quote from Mandy Hale:
“It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.”