Be good to yourself: The art of self-love
We were all born and celebrated as cute little bundles of joy. Then we blossom and the cuteness somewhat fades away. Then comes the bosses, colleagues, mates, boys, men, and friends. This is when the seed of self-love you’ve sowed is put to test. If you have learnt the art of self-love, then you will easily get through life. Loving yourself more is not being greedy, selfish or unfair. We are taught to be considerate and put others first but never how to love and prepare ourselves for the journey ahead. While you can be generous and kind, it shouldn’t be with a low self-esteem. Self-esteem, self-care, self-acceptance, self-awareness, self-empowerment, self-respect, self-compassion, self-expression and self-worth are characteristics that all women should have. Notice that these words all begin with “self”? We need to get over the fear of the unknown and understand our worth by simply practicing self-love. Self-love is not a one-time event but an endless, ongoing process. “To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.” – Oscar Wilde Here, ladies, is what happens when you love yourself: You take ownership of your life and understand that it doesn’t matter what others think of you, but how you feel about yourself. You stop acting small and instead allow growth in. You let yourself live your purpose and see no need to compete, prove or compare yourself to others. Negotiations become easy because you know your value and will not settle for less. You accept your failures as learning curves and know your significance isn’t dependent on what you produce. You naturally attract peace and harmony in your day-to-day relationships. I’ve got some great self-love ideas for you. Honour and love yourself Think about what makes you happy and JUST DO IT! Put yourself first Act upon your own needs first, rather than on what others expect from you. Remember, other people’s needs are not your responsibility. Take care of yourself Exercise, eat healthy, pamper yourself and interact socially. Remember to treat your body like the temple it is and spend time doing things that enrich your soul. Set boundaries and maintain them Always let people know what you will and won’t tolerate. When you set boundaries, you avoid situations at work, in relationships, or in any activity that emotionally or physically damages you. Select the right friends Don’t waste time with people who won’t mind taking away your happiness. Spend more time with like-minded people or those that bring out the best in you. Do all it takes to be you Your purpose doesn’t have to be crystal clear but figure out what makes you feel good, and do it as often as you can. Feeling good is all the permission you need to do what you love. Acknowledge your imperfect self Stop judging and criticizing yourself. You don’t always have to win. Remember, it’s the effort that counts, no matter the results. Engage in spirituality By doing this, you will just learn to naturally fall in love with yourself. Improve your skills Look for opportunities capable of increasing your self-confidence, like making time to focus on what you are good at. This will boost your self-confidence and esteem. Identify a go-to place Find a place you can sit and embrace life without anything getting in your way. Forget about work deadlines and bills that need your attention. Have a moment to connect with just yourself. These suggestions will help you to develop a sense of accomplishment and pride in what you do and who you are. You will realize that you are worthy and talented and deserve to be loved. When you start experiencing the power of self-love, trust me, the effect will be magical and everything will simply fall into place. Life can actually feel really good.