THE ART OF LOVING YOURSELF

Have you ever battled with low self-esteem, or do you let the opinions of other people define you, or have you let yourself to be so dependent on other people's approval?

Or is it that you do not take care of your mental and physical health enough, or treat yourself to nice things?

Maybe you don't know how to or can't relate with any of these questions. But here's a reminder:

WHEN YOU ARE HAVING SELF-DOUBT…

Understand what gives you life, and when you're down, go to your support system that can motivate you.

Surround yourself with positive things, because your output is a combination of what you're made up of inside.

Confidence is a practice. Know the actionable steps to take to build that confidence. One thing you can do is daily self-affirmation, and do not talk down on yourself. Speak to yourself the way you'll speak to a friend!

Know your strengths, how people describe you, and write them down. Positive things about yourself form your thoughts, feelings.

WHEN YOU’RE TOLD SELF-LOVE IS SELFISHNESS…

Let such person know that

You would not pressure yourself to do something you don't want to do. Take time to self-reflect to know what you need to get charged.

You need to take care of yourself first and protect your mind, so that you can be the Best Version of Yourself and give your best to others.

WHEN PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU…

You can approach this is in 2 ways:

When people take advantage of you, have a strong sense of identity, take your stance and confront whoever the person is, OR

Sometimes, wisdom requires you to overlook for the time being for the purpose of winning a bigger battle. But make sure the things you overlook don't destroy you.

People would take advantage of you if you do not set boundaries, so set boundaries in every relationship, and show up consistently in portraying your values.

WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE…

Making mistakes is part of growth, because you can only do better if you know better. It is also good healthy sense of self that makes us admit when we do wrong. So, when you make a mistake, identify actionable steps to take to not make the same mistake.

You can also affirm yourself, so that you do not drown yourself in guilt.

WHEN YOU HAVE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS…

When you have negative thoughts, don't suppress it, instead be aware of it and challenge it by doing things you love to do, because negative thoughts keep you away from your goal.

Do not talk negatively about yourself and stay away from people who talk you down.

WHEN YOU’RE IN A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP, OR IN A RELATIONSHIP THAT DOESN’T ADD VALUE TO YOU…

Starve the relationship of communication. That way, you'll severe it, because communication is what sustains relationships.

Protecting your peace of mind is key, so if there is anyone threatening your existence or hindering your progress, or not adding value to you, burn the bridge! Some bridges need to be burnt!

A reminder: You become the average of people you surround yourself with.

WHEN YOU’RE SAD WITH YOURSELF…

Meditate on the life that you want for yourself. You may not have it yet, but you need to radiate that energy. When you visualize what you want to become, you can take action steps towards that dream or goal.

You are responsible for your life and your journey, and you're the author of your own story. Personal Growth is a choice!

Be kind to yourself and know that you'll face struggles. Don't be afraid to talk about your challenges and embrace the messiness.

If you're not happy with yourself, it may be because you do not know yourself, so self-awareness is very important, and you can achieve this by self-reflection.

WHEN YOU HAVE IMPOSTOR SYNDROME OR ARE AFRAID OF CROWDS …

Give yourself credit for all your achievements, because if you didn't deserve to be wherever you are, you wouldn't be there. You're not who you are because of an opportunity, it's the other way around.

If you want to compare anything at all, do not compare yourself with someone else, instead, compare your present self with your past self and commend yourself for the progress you've made. Prioritize progress over perfection because self-love is a journey.

Don't shy away from speaking or taking up roles, instead give it a go and master the process. Even when you're afraid, affirm yourself and show up.

I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU IN YOUR SELF-LOVE JOURNEY! DO REACH OUT ANYTIME!