Many years ago I had a website selling baby clothes and blog to go along with it. I noticed one day I’d had a thousand hits on a page I’d titled Baby, Baby, Baby. I was a little surprised until someone pointed out it was the title of a Justin Beiber song. I’m not trying to replicate that with today’s title, the kind of loving yourself I want to talk about is much more important.
Loving yourself may be given a bad name, especially by the likes of Justin Beiber, but there is a difference between self love and only loving yourself.
self-love
noun
regard for one’s own well-being and happiness
First lets have a reality check. You are not perfect! No-one is, but accepting your flaws and embracing them can be a good thing. If you know you can do better, then that’s great, work on it, do it! But, don’t become something you are not just because you are not happy with the way you are now. You may like yourself even less!
Here is a little piece from one of my favourite Authors, Paulo Coelho.
Reality
by Paulo Coelho
Ideal Conditions
The ideal conditions that you are looking for don’t exist. We shall never be able to get rid of certain defects. The trick is to know that despite all your flaws you are an extraordinary person.
Yes, you know very well but try to go beyond the limits that you are used to – for ten minutes a day – be that person you have always wanted to be. If the problem is shyness, stimulate conversation. If the problem is guilt, feel approved. If you think that the world ignores you, try consciously to attract everyone’s looks. You will experience the occasional difficult situation, but it’s worth it.If for ten minutes a day you can manage to be what you dreamed, you are already making great progress.
How to Love Yourself.
May I ask you a few questions? You don’t have to tell me the answers but you might want to think about them personally. You may even want to write down your answers. Take your time, think carefully and clearly. This is ‘you’ you are thinking about.
What kind of relationship do you have with yourself?
How do you handle compliments and your own achievements?
What about your failures? How do you handle them?
Recall decisions you made that you still struggle to accept.
What good came from those decisions?
What is the one thing you should do for yourself?
Taking the time to think about your own relationship with yourself and how you see yourself is a great way of connecting with your own needs. What is important to you?
Pampering
There is no better way of showing a little self love than pampering. A lovely spa experience, within the likes of a luxury steam shower at home or away will rejuvenate you. Clearing out your wardrobe can be very cathartic too. Buy yourself something nice, spend some time on your favourite hobby, or get away to your favourite place to be. Treat yourself, you are worth it.
Finally, one last question;
what is the thing that you are most proud of about yourself?
You can tell me this in the comments if you want to, I’ll give you a virtual pat on the back.
