Firstly, happy happy new year!! I hope you're feeling into the newness and freshness of 2022. This year feels a lot lighter already, and the energy of it just feels...different. Can anyone else relate?
Today I wanted to talk about self love. This thing that everyone seems to be talking about.
I find that everyone defines self love in their own way, and the definition can even change throughout our lives.
Here are some of my definitions:
Self love is wanting well-being for ourselves.
Self love is trusting ourselves & our intuition.
Self love is taking action on living our best lives.
Self love is accepting and embracing all parts of us.
Self love is trusting the spirit within me that is always loving.
Last night, I was listening to the podcast We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle & her team, featuring Ashley Ford. They were talking about how self love is doing those things for ourselves that we'd want our LOVED ones to do for THEIR selves.
For example, I have a friend who has a BOOK inside of her!!! (Yes, she will probably read this haha) - and what I would want for her is to WRITE. THAT. BOOK!
There are people in my life who I would LOVE for to visit the doctor for that thing that's been bothering them.
And there's a woman in my life who knows she needs to have a hard conversation with her partner.
And I know many, many people who don't celebrate themselves enough!
You know all those things you want for your loved ones? Self love is doing the things your loved ones would want for YOU.
As humans, we sometimes tell people what to do as a projection of what WE deeply want to do for ourselves. Self love is taking. That. Action. For ourselves! And instead of projecting our desires onto everyone around us, or complaining about the things that aren't happening, we can be an inspiring force of movement and joy and purpose!
As Lizzo says,
"If I'm shining, everybody gonna shine!!!"
When we love ourselves enough to do those things for our highest and greatest good, it impacts everyone around us.
So what are you going to do for self love today?
Much love,
Raman
"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance" -Oscar Wilde