Contrary to what some believe, self-love is not being narcissistic or having an inflated ego. It’s not being selfish and greedy or hiding away from the world.
Simply stated, self-love is a state of appreciation —for yourself! It’s honoring your own well-being and journey – no matter where it’s taking you.
Why is it important?
For starters, loving yourself opens the door for happiness and joy to enter your life. It’s the seedling of inner peace.
Energetically, your outer world is a reflection of your inner state. As such, we will attract experiences and people into our lives that are in alignment with how we feel.
Self-love is a positive choice that in turn creates positivity in your life. When you love yourself, you’re more apt to make healthy choices, be more motivated and expressive. Self-love can lead to improved health, increased strength, productivity and decreased stress.
Your capacity to give and receive love from others is mirrored by the amount in which you give and receive from yourself. Similarly, when you love yourself, you naturally develop and express a desire to spread that love to others.
How is it expressed?
Gratitude. Asking for help. Speaking up for yourself. Maintaining healthy boundaries. All of these are ways in which you express self-love.
It’s listening to and trusting your intuition. Being compassionate and kind to yourself. Practicing self-acceptance and understanding. Showing yourself compassion and forgiveness.
Is Self-Love Innate or Does it Need to be Taught?
For most of us, we generously shower others with these things. Yet, WE are last on our own list to receive them from ourselves. It wasn’t always that way.
We were all born innately loving ourselves. Because we were innocent beings entering this world, we knew no other way but love for self. Through life, through the experience of being human, most of us have been conditioned to operate otherwise. So, in answer to the question, yes, it is innate and yes, we do need to be taught —or at least reminded.
Allow yourself the gift of remembering. Research ways to practice self love. Like my Awakening Your Limitless Self program, there are many programs available, many practitioners, many blogs and posts and articles to help teach you to remember and realize ways to practice self-love and self-acceptance. Do something to express your own self-love today.
Leave me a comment and let me know how you do. Let’s spread self-love today. Let’s make that the epidemic.
Leave a Reply