Your highest calling is to love yourself. Many of us have been duped into believing that loving yourself is selfish or conceited, when actually, this is one of the most selfless things you can do.
By loving yourself, you are giving yourself permission to be YOU. You are so uniquely special that if you did not exist, the world would not be the same.
When you love yourself more fully, you love others more fully. Your capacity for compassion deepens, your perspective changes.
Lack of self love plays out so painfully in relationships. When it comes to love, you can't give what you don't have. If you keep trying to love people before you've done the inner work, it's like throwing out a boomerang and then being confused when it comes back.
The hard truth is that if you avoid self love, the universe will keep sending you people who also avoid loving you. As long as you are unable to see your innate beauty and uniqueness, you will continue to attract people who are unable to see it as well.
One of the best ways to love yourself is to practice self-care. Self-care is about rest, exploration, choice, attention, mindfulness, gentleness, slowing down, experiencing pleasure, and really anything that makes you feel good. The most important thing is simply that you listen to your inner voice. It will tell you what you need.
To get you started, here’s a list of ways you might want to practice self care:
- Write or create art
- Take a walk outside
- Drink lots of water
- Eat mostly plants and fresh, raw foods
- Stretch
- Organize your physical space (it creates a clearer mental space)
- Take a technology break
- Dance or sing to your favorite music
- Read a book
- Write yourself a love letter
- Meditate
HAHA yes! I need to get more consistent! ;)
i.e. more R&R?? ;)
Love this - Ive been drinking lots more water recently because I notice how much a lack there of I was taking in. Also Writing in my journal more has been a great one to reconnect with myself <3
Ah yesssss. Water is life haha. I drink at least a gallon per day! I'm with you on this!
Nice article with solid examples of self-love that one could consider implementing!
I walk most days, try to drink plenty of water, have been cutting meat out of my diet, and stretch more. I love to dance, sing and workout to my favorite music playlist!
Write yourself a love letter!!!!!!!!
Sounds to be an extreme measure.
Every idea will not be for every person - those are merely options. Although, I did that exercise myself and found it extremely valuable. To each their own. :)