Self-Love
One of the many passions that came alive once I started to focus less about the perfection with my appearance, was my love for the art of writing.
I want to bring you back to 2019 and share with you a Toastmasters speech that I wrote and presented at a meeting in Camas, WA.
What comes to mind when you think of the word “love?” Perhaps you think about wedding vows or maybe the first time you held your newborn baby. Maybe you think about Valentine's Day.
The type of love I have in mind about today is self-love. And in my opinion, one of the most important kinds of love. According to Dr. Andrea Brant, a licensed psychotherapist self-love means having a high regard for your own well-being and happiness.
I know that sometimes it seems like there aren't enough hours in the day to tackle everything that is put in front of us with work, school, family, friends, etc. We are tired! But I can assure you there are simple ways to care for yourself so that you are better equipped with the strength and energy to handle it all.
Talking to ourselves in a positive way, and treating ourselves with care can add value to our quality of life and improve our health and self-worth. In turn, this allows our other relationships, both in and out of the home, to thrive.
First, I'd like to address the ways in which we talk to ourselves. We can sometimes be unaware of our inner dialogue. We can be our own worst critic. In the past, I would tell myself things like “I’m not worthy.” Or, “yeah right, that's just wishful thinking.” Or the one I told myself the most…”I can’t.”
What all those negative messages did was knock me down. And then somewhere along my path to healing I learned about positive inner dialogue. I changed, “I’m not worthy” into “I am worthy because I am doing the footwork.” “That's just wishful thinking” changed into “what do I have to do to go after what I want?” And I turned “I can’t” into “today, I can because I have the tools to ensure I make it through.” Changing my inner dialogue has enabled me to display more love and tolerance towards myself and others by being more compassionate and understanding.
Secondly, we can display self-love by treating our minds and bodies right. This means being mindful of our entertainment, eating foods that nourish our bodies and incorporating some form of physical activity into our schedule. One of the biggest challenges that I faced was taking a break from Facebook and other social media platforms. To be honest, I still watch YouTube from time to time. I am sucker for a good TED talk.
The relief I felt from not “scrolling, liking and comparing” myself to what's out there on social media has done wonders for my well-being. Taking a break from my social media accounts allows me to find healthier ways to occupy my time by exploring more books and different hobbies, such as fitness and learning about essential oils.
But I'd have to say that joining Toastmasters is one of the biggest investments I've made in myself. I've been reacquainted with my love for writing, and I'm building useful skills that will benefit me, especially in the workplace and in my day-to-day interactions.
Lastly, there are things we do just for ourselves just because it makes us feel good. This can be something as simple as looking up at the stars with a tasty cup of tea, a bubble bath after a long day at work, or finally purchasing that item that's been “saved for later” on Amazon. These personal acts of love we give to ourselves can be the most fun and the most rewarding.
A few weeks ago, I took myself out on an afternoon date to watch the remake of my favorite Disney movie “Aladdin.” Watching the movie through the eyes of my inner child, I laughed out loud many times and became enthralled with the colors, costumes and graphics for each scene. There was something magical about tapping into that innocent part of me. It was both energizing and very gratifying.
I believe self-love is one of the most important forms of love because it can energize, relax and recharge us as we go about our daily routines. When we are energized, relaxed, and recharged, we can perform our best and present our best selves to the world. I encourage you to be mindful of your inner dialogue. Replace unhealthy foods for healthier alternatives. Be mindful of how you use your time and the entertainment you expose yourself to. And of course, do something just for you because it makes you feel good. Move your body. Settle into nature. Make that purchase. Explore your inner child. Love and invest in yourself.
Be the example for your friends, your partner, your family, and your coworkers and clients because in order to show love and kindness to others we first have to show it to ourselves.