Self-love isn’t selfish.
We live in an extremely competitive world. Where did you go to school and what do you do are questions most of us ask or are asked as soon as we meet someone new. Social media allows us to compare our worst to someone else’s staged best twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Hollywood makes us thing we have failed if we don’t look a certain way or make a certain salary. It can be a constant struggle to avoid trying to fit.
Because of the numerous threats to our self-worth and self-confidence, self-love has become a very popular subject. Self-love is more than a buzz word or trending topic; however, it is an essential element in our overall health and wellness.
- True self-love doesn’t waver if you’ve never married, married, or divorced.
- True self-love isn’t squashed by pounds, inches, and pant sizes.
- True self-love isn’t precipitated by degrees, titles, or bank accounts.
- True self-love isn’t harsh, cruel, or extremely critical.
Loving yourself doesn’t mean that you don’t get sad or feel disappointment. You can love yourself and still want to lose ten pounds. Loving yourself doesn’t mean that you can’t aspire to get a promotion or start a business. You can love yourself and still desire to be a wife or a mother or a husband or a father. Loving yourself doesn’t mean that you won’t ever question yourself or need a confidence boost. Self-love is wise, kind and resilient and infectious.
Every next level of your life will demand a different version of you.
Self-love is more than simply loving yourself (most people don’t actually hate themselves by the way), it is about appreciating and celebrating all that you are. None of us are perfect and that is OK because self-love isn’t about striving for perfection or pretending to be perfect. Self-love is about acknowledging your quirks, flaws, talents, dreams, mistakes, abilities, and spirit and fully embracing your authenticity and individuality. Self-love is about accepting your past and your present situation because you know that they are preparing you for a brighter future.
Our level of self-love determines our beliefs and our behaviors – who we date, where we work, what we purchase, and where we live. Here are 5 ways for both men and women to practice self-love on Valentine’s Day and everyday:
- Practice self-care
- Make a list of your good qualities
- Say no to things that don’t serve you
- Spend time with people who appreciate and uplift you
- Speak kindly to yourself and about yourself
Self-care isn’t selfish. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Nicki Sanders, MSW, is a cupcake lover with a passion for self-discovery and career development. She has a strong background in developing and managing interns and successful internship programs. She is an accomplished manager, professor, coach, trainer, and group facilitator who has packaged her Master of Social Work degree and 20 years of diverse work experience into Packaged For Success, a full service training and professional development company.
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