Love! Love ! Love! Not a day goes by without this word getting a new meaning every day. It’s amazing how reinventing the word love brings a whole new level of definition every single day. It’s the only word that humans are affected by it directly whether positively or negatively. Valentine’s Day just ended recently and the amount of attention ‘Love’ received, was overwhelming, as usual. Everybody tried to give or show their love to others in the best way the could, and yes, the way they could afford. Thanks to Valentine’s Day, all businesses that themed red or valentines made an extra shilling.
Couples and singles. Young and small. They all received a little something to show they were appreciated. Of course there’s that percentage that still believes that love should be expressed every day and not by a single day. I totally agree with them so long as their supporting arguments are in the right motive. You know what I mean. 😉
Today I am delving in a different type of love; True Love i.e. Self love.
Unfortunately, most people really don’t appreciate themselves as they should. Instead, they focus on making others feel loved, at their own expense. Self love according to oxford dictionary means regard for one’s own well-being and happiness. Quite simple , right ? It’s a wonder then why a big population of humans really don’t embrace it. People are busy trying to make lives of other people happy. Be it bosses, be it spouses, parents, authority, even children. Don’t get me wrong, accountability and responsibility is totally different from self love. No, I didn’t say be selfish.
Self love is knowing you. Meeting you. Being able to work with you, for you and attain your desired goals without over exploiting yourself. We talk of being stressed, pressured, under paid and over worked, yet, we are the ones that plant the seed of how people should treat us. They just water the seed to become a tree. Once it’s a tree, you realize you are incompetent, you compare yourself with the success of your peers, fall into depression, perform worse than you were, you slowly drown in your self criticism , eventually your world crumbles right before your eyes. The worst part is, your children follow the exact same route because that’s how you coach them to live their lives. Sadly, The world falls into a big cycle of wishful thinking.
STOP! Did you know that once you embrace self love you build yourself, you become more successful than you thought? Yeah, you are more productive when you love yourself.
Here are quick tips that really don’t need rocket science to change your life.
a) Be mindful of your self.
Once you mind yourself, you actually acknowledge that you are a being that exists. You recognize that you aren’t just any bird, fish or animal born to this world. You should be curious to know what’s your actual purpose for this journey called life. This is a key first step of developing this being. Growing it to achieve its purpose. That being is you.
b) Be aware of your needs verses your wants.
Let’s face it. Everyone has a dream, an desire, a wish, a bucket list to cross out in this life. Maybe you haven’t really discovered yours yet, but trust me once you do, life will make so much sense. It would be actually worth living. Good thing of differentiating your needs from wants, life becomes clear of what is important to work off your butt to achieve and what really isn’t. This actually gives you a clearer perspective to life. How? Are you conversant with the saying , ‘ One man’s meat is another man’s poison’? Sure, you can’t all run to achieve someone’s else’s needs yet they are bare wants to you.
c) Know your limits and preferences.
Setting your boundaries is equally important. It gives you a clear picture of who you really are. This turns you to an original masterpiece of yourself, the only copy in the world, a rare resource. This is the blue print of how you should live your life. If you don’t believe in something, stand your ground. If you prefer to approach life in a certain manner, express it. It’s by discovering your boundaries and playing field that you get to protect yourself from the world.
d) Invest in yourself.
At this point, you have a fully baked persona that needs some polishing up. Have you realized that you were in a bad relationship? Leading a wrong lifestyle? Never took a break? Living a lie? A copycat? It’s never too late to make a change. Actually, l believe the only point in life when you can’t change is when you are dead. So, quite whining, come out of your shock and self pity. Rise up, do something about it. Get your self to a better position and importantly, forgive yourself. I repeat. FORGIVE YOURSELF.
Forgiveness opens a door where you can do, learn self improvement tactics, polishing yourself to be the perfect you.
e) Take charge of your life.
Who doesn’t love perfect, nice things? 🙌 Everyone does. You’ll definitely fall in love with your new you more. Just be confident about yourself. This is you! No one can teach you how to live you, Right? Present your own perfect version to the world. Take breaks, go for holidays, treat your self with that ‘ kanyamchom’. Live your life with a purpose. You’ll be amazed how much love and positive change happens around you.
That’s not all. ‘Service’ yourself.
Occasionally check yourself, correct your mistakes, appreciate your achievements. Remember: Haters are going to hate, but NEVER let them into your nerve. Furthermore, the tree that produces the sweetest fruits gets the most stones, 😎.
Get out there, Give yourself some loving, emit positive vibes around you.
Have a self-loving week, won’t you?
