Ways to Embrace Self Love
There are so many different approaches to giving yourself love and after a year of isolation we have spent so much time getting to know ourselves. This is a journey I am currently on but trying to find an approach that works best for me is not so easy. Self love requires time and dedication, which is what I believe is the biggest hurdle to overcome. But how do we make time for everything else in our day but ourselves. Personally, I have tried different approaches but sometimes it ends up feeling more like a job than self love. One thing that has helped me is listening and researching different tips that have helped others throughout their journey. There is no one size fits all but when you finally find the approach that works best for you, it can completely change your life. We all require self love, to help us flourish, to help us understand and to help us love others full heartedly but how can we accomplish this will full time schedules. Below I listed some tips that are currently helping me through this journey
Having a mourning routine
This should be both realistic and filled with purpose. When I have a schedule set for the week, day and hour, I feel less anxious and more in control. In the routine I have, I practice waking up an hour earlier than I had originally scheduled in the past. This helps me dedicate time to myself and in this time I exercise or simply allow myself to think clearly. As a single mother and a person with a full time job, it is difficult to have anytime to myself which only makes me feel overwhelmed and less motivated. A few other tips I have heard that are helpful during this time is meditating, journaling or reading positive affirmations, speaking or writing what you are grateful for or even enjoying a cup of coffee in complete silence, This helps me start my day with a positive perspective and because I wake up earlier I am not rushing to start my day like I have done in the past.
2. Staying focused
Keeping your focus on things that uplift your spirit and on things that you love. I may not be exactly where I want to be but I am trying to stay focused on who I am becoming. To get me through most days at work, listening to a positive podcast like Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast or podcasts that are focused on building a business allows my mind to feel more at ease and focused on the task at hand. Writing your to-do list for the day can help you from being distracted or prevent you from any negative thoughts.
3. Surround yourself with people you love
They say it takes a village and this statement has never been more true than it is for me today. Surround yourself with people who uplift you and support you. I know we are in a society that believes we can do everything on our own but we can’t. Coming from someone who has lived this way for a long time, I have learned that although I can manage a lot on my own, it is very draining. We have built this world on communities, whether big or small but history has shown that it was not done by only one person and we need each other to grow to heal and to love. Whether this is with family, friends, social groups or peer groups, we need support and we need to be surrounded by love.
4. Make time to appreciate nature
There are so many health benefits to surrounding yourself with nature, whether it’s taking a walk or opening your windows to view nature from your home or office can help you feel more grounded. Nature is always serving us with food, shade, smell and our biggest blessing with no cost at all to us. Take that walk, sit outside and embrace all that surrounds us everyday. Nature provides so much healing and it’s important that we allow it to be part of our lives.
5. Goals and Gratitude
Write down what your goals and what you are grateful for. There is something so significant when that pen touches that paper, it becomes possible and tangible. Writing down what makes you happy and what you are grateful for at the end of the day can allow you to appreciate the day that is now behind you. Write down your goals and what you wish to accomplish can help you look forward to the day ahead. Anything is possible if we begin to embrace it!
6. Night time routine
Having a planned night time routine as you do in the morning will only help continue to enhance this behavior and leaves less room for procrastination. Utilize this time for yourself, like meditating, reading, a facial, journaling or whatever helps you whine down and prepare for the day ahead.
7. Move with love
Last but not least, move with love, in your actions, in your words and in your presence. When you are able to move with love, you are able to move in peace. Trust me this is not always easy or something that can always be done but because you started your day with an hour devoted to yourself, this may be easier to accomplish. When you move with love you can not go wrong, love yourself and love will follow.
This list of suggestions may or may not work for everyone but it allows you to create a list of things that will work for you. I have truly learned to understand that it’s so important to dedicate time to yourself and keep yourself organized. I am unable to pour anything to my son, my job or my family if my vessel is empty. In the past, my priority was to make sure those around me were taken care of but when it came to myself I felt so depleted. This emptiness soon evolved to resentment and there was no one else to blame but myself. I am the only person that can make the necessary changes in my life in order to feel more love and live more present. Honestly, I am still trying to figure out what works best for me and this may continue to evolve as my life continues to change but I am truly grateful that I am constantly searching and growing, If there is anything that is currently working for you or has helped you obtain and maintain self love
