“Eat like you love yourself. Move like you love yourself. Speak like you love yourself. Act like you love yourself.” -Unknown
I love the quote above. It’s a constant reminder that self-love is important. Today is a good day to practice being kind to yourself as it helps you be kind to others. There is a lot going on in the world, that is causing stress, anxiety, and depression. COVID-19 has left us not only grieving the loss of loved ones, but the loss of travel plans, weddings, birthday celebrations, and much more. Beloved, taking the time out to simply be kind to ourselves can help us get through this time.
I want you to have a different perspective and celebrate you beloved. Take time out to honor yourself on this day. Celebrating you should be a common thing, not only during challenging times. Celebrating small victories should be part of your everyday normal. When was the last time you took time out for yourself, and really concentrated on you without feeling guilt or shame?
There are benefits to treating yourself well. The way you love yourself dictates how you want to be treated in relationships. Loving yourself enables you to love others in a better way. Putting yourself at the top of your to-do-list every day relieves stress and anxiety. You may have a higher level of satisfaction, stronger motivation, and more health and personal growth. After all, self-love and self-care isn’t only for Saturdays or Sundays. It’s more than a hashtag. The action steps below will give you a few tips and strategies on how to pay more attention to yourself.
- Write yourself a love letter. There are proven psychological benefits to writing things down and writing a love letter to yourself is no different. You should document how you feel about yourself, which can lead to greater self-confidence. It holds you accountable to what love means to you, will inspire you, and require others to respect you. Often times, I do this in the form of writing positive affirmations to myself. I repeat them often. You may even want to start a thought catalog.
- Celebrate your wins more often. Find time to focus on the good things, however small they maybe. Turn your failures into lessons. Nobody’s perfect. We all make mistakes. Instead of thinking about how bad you failed, think about what you could do differently the next time. I ran a half-marathon this past November, where I had a goal of finishing in under 3 hours. Well, that did not happen. Yes. I was very upset but had to look on the bright side and put together a plan to meet my goal the next time.
- Do Something for Yourself. It’s our human nature to spend much of our time caring for others, both at home and at work. I was a stay-at-home mom for nearly fifteen years and found myself on the back burner often. My family’s needs came first. With the help of my husband, I found ways to put myself first, which included me running and working out. I was even able to have spa days with friends. Lately, I’ve created girlfriend getaways with some of my closest friends. My book club has also been a way for me to increase my intellect while having fun. Take time out of your schedule to focus on you.
- Do Things that Spark Joy. If you’re unhappy in your career, that’s optional. Develop a plan to find what your strengths are and then operate in them. As we grow, our interest change. What you may have liked in earlier years, probably has changed. Do what you’re interested in, right now. Find time for hobbies and free time. “People with many interests live, not only the longest, but the happiest.” – George Matthew Allen. I enjoy reading, am an avid runner, enjoy spending time in nature, and like listening to podcast. Make sure to identify what sparks joy for you.
Lastly, be open to love and kindness from others, as well as from yourself. Say out loud (maybe in the mirror), “I love you!” Celebrate yourself. You’re worthy! You’re Enough!