Being just over a month removed from the season of pink and red, Valentine’s Day, let’s consider relationships for a moment. While the love and relationships we have with others is celebrated during this time in the form of roses and assorted chocolates, the love we have for ourselves deserves just as much acknowledgement. With everything in life, moderation is essential to balance and order so why do we accept anything less when it comes to actively loving ourselves?
Abstract in its phrasing, self-love is anything but. Self-love, a concept that seems like second nature at face value, is not always easy to achieve. We spend so much time protecting ourselves from adversity that we fail to realize we can be our own worst enemy. Self-love is knowing your worth and adding tax. It is establishing boundaries and more importantly, sticking to them. When we have a solid foundation of self-love, not only are we more easily receptive to the love of others; we become more receptive to the right kind of love.
Some days you wake up in a positive mood, eat a good breakfast and have a good hair day. On days like this, self-love may come easy. Other days when workloads are piling up, you may come across disappointment or find that you are spreading yourself too thin. We tend to lose sight of what makes us special, giving room to negative thoughts and toxic habits. While this may require some introspection, visualizing your happiness, making it tangible and recognizing when its time to prioritize yourself (yes, that is okay) are some of the many tools you may want to pack on your self-love journey.
Consider a flower: whether it thrives is dependent on the quality of its environment. Only when given adequate sunlight, soil and water will it blossom to its full potential. The same concept applies when it comes to loving ourselves. We must acknowledge that although we may have flaws, they are not a measure of who we are but how much potential we have to grow. It’s not easy, but aren’t you worth that hard work?
Part of our journey to self-love involves recognizing and sorting through the things that are either contributing to or taking away from our happiness and well being. Whether this is in the form of friendships, lifestyles or the color of your room, you deserve the amount of love you give out and don’t doubt it for a second.
How can we be so eager to receive the love and validation we desire from others but fall short when it comes to providing it for ourselves? The good thing about working towards a self-love journey is that you will find yourself less willing to settle and more likely to stay true to yourself. At the end of the day, if you do anything or nothing at all, at least breathe. Be patient with yourself and trust your process.
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Call 2-1-1 or (850) 617-6333 for our free, confidential hotline services.
