Weekly newsletter
I. Prompts for motivation
How often do you notice when you’re silently criticizing aspects of your appearance, demeanor, or personality? Is it hard to stop the mental train of judgment and harshness toward the things you find hard to like about yourself?
What does self-love mean to you, and in what ways do you take the time to practice it when you’re going through a difficult time? Can you think of someone in your life who actively tries to change their mental self-talk from negative to positive, filled with support, humor, and kindness?
II. Thoughts for intention
Self-love means to have regard for one’s personal well-being and happiness. It’s about appreciating your own worth and value, and treating yourself with the same empathy, love, and kindness as you would for someone close to you. While some might quickly dismiss the importance of the topic by tossing it beneath the umbrella of narcissism, this couldn’t be further from the truth since narcissism itself stems from a profound lack of self-love and insecurity. Healthy self-love is built on self-awareness and acceptance.
By treating yourself with respect and compassion, you are then able to maintain it with others. This promotes important self-care and authentic relationships. Of course, embracing yourself does not mean falling blind to any flaws or areas of improvement. They are still visible, but they are also a work in progress as we continue to strive to protect our well-being and self-esteem throughout the process. In doing so, we are securing our sense of self-worth without having to demand it from others.
III. Ideas for preparation
We can practice embracing ourselves by taking the time to reflect on our values, beliefs, and what makes us unique. By getting as much clarity as possible, we can decide on which short or long-term goals we’d like to focus on, as well as the areas of our lives that need our attention. Be it personal growth, self-care, creativity, or more, the point is that we can use any of these insights to figure out what would bring the most meaning to our days in the long run. Ultimately, we get to choose.
Another way to get better at embracing yourself is by building small rituals, habits, and activities that fill you with gratitude and joy. This will vary from person to person and might include journaling, running, cooking, singing, dancing, playing an instrument, or revisiting your favorite things. Who knows, maybe along the way, you find a new passion that could open doors to something beyond your expectations. The more effort we put in, the more we get to add a greater sense of fulfillment to our days.
IV. Quotes for inspiration
“When you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance. What I know for sure is that every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and step out and dance—to live free of regret and filled with as much joy, fun, and laughter as you can stand. You can either waltz boldly onto the stage of life and live the way you know your spirit is nudging you to, or you can sit quietly by the wall, receding into the shadows of fear and self-doubt.”
― Oprah Winfrey, What I Know For Sure
“Love rests on two pillars: surrender and autonomy. Our need for togetherness exists alongside our need for separateness. One does not exist without the other. With too much distance, there can be no connection. But too much merging eradicates the separateness of two distinct individuals. Then there is nothing more to transcend, no bridge to walk on, no one to visit on the other side, no other internal world to enter. When people become fused—when two become one—connection can no longer happen.”
― Esther Perel, Mating in Captivity
