When you google the definition of self-love, the answer revealed is a high regard for your wellness and happiness.
In a world that says your body is less than deserving of love because of your size, holding yourself in high regard can be difficult to maintain. However, when the world wants to be ugly, your inner world can be beautiful!
The only requirement is to wake up each day and take hold of the opportunity to build a relationship with yourself. One that accepts who you are today while nurturing who you want to become tomorrow.
How you treat yourself is rooted in your relationship with yourself. In this article, I will share five ways to take inventory and restore your connection with the parts of yourself that enjoy celebrating every inch of you along your self-love journey.
Take Action
Self-love is not selfish; it is a decision you make to foster a nourishing relationship with yourself. One of the first ways you can begin this process is by paying attention to your needs.
When you first wake up, check-in with yourself and your body about what you need. Ask yourself, what do you need to feel happy throughout the day? Then set your intentions to invest in the necessary action steps required to fulfill that need.
Ask yourself when you can take care of yourself if you know your day will be stressful. This can look like loving affirmations, a quick face mask or facial massage, taking yourself on a lunch date, or even turning off your phone to get some good sleep.
Making your care a top priority means creating the space for it. The time and effort you give yourself - you deserve every minute of it!
Tune into your Emotions
How you feel can play a significant role in the actions you take. Make it a priority to learn and understand the flow of your emotions throughout the day. Emotions serve us to help identify our needs and influence our actions.
You can start by paying attention to the sensations throughout your body associated with how you feel. If you find yourself feeling upset, you could explore which activities or
things in your environment could be contributing to those feelings. Don’t miss the opportunity to acknowledge the information your body is trying to share with you.
Don’t judge how you feel but observe the body’s language and what thoughts and feelings arise from these body-based sensations. Over time, you will begin to see patterns in your emotions; this information gives you clear insight into your emotional habits that you can leverage to experience more joy, calm, and peace throughout your day.
A Dash of Sensuality
It is not only about caring for yourself but about how you care for yourself. As you begin to focus on loving yourself, add more sensuality to your day. Let your senses guide you into nourishing activities that create a pleasurable mood.
Imagine setting the tone of your day by lighting candles and listening to lo-fi music while you work on your laptop. As you listen to your favorite playlist, you lean back in your chair and wrap a cozy scarf around your shoulders. As you turn your head, the aroma of fresh roses embraces you like a warm hug.
As you read this description, shift your attention to your body and notice the sensations and feelings. How do you feel at this moment?
Remaining connected to your senses intentionally can have a grounding effect and create new habits that lovingly nurture your wellbeing.
Celebrate Along the Way
This adventure of self-love that you have decided to go on will require learning new skills every day. There will be days when the journey becomes overwhelming, and in those moments, celebrate your progress along the way.
In all that you do, take up space in a spirit of celebration. Stay present in your body and release any judgement that makes you feel unworthy of honoring yourself right where you are today.
Love is not earned through performative acts but something that’s freely accessible. So, replace any judgement you may feel with compassion and kindness.
I Am Affirmations
I want to begin this journey with you with some shared affirmations. I ask that you shift your attention to your body as you say these affirmations with me:
I am growing in love with myself every day.
I am enough to give myself love.
I am present in my body.
I am listening to my body.
I am honoring my feelings today.
I am enjoying my body.
I am playful.
I am enjoying every moment of my life.
I am excited to listen and nurture my needs.
I am filling my cup up with compassion and kindness.
Bio
Instagram @adriennebennett
Podcast https://anchor.fm/thegrowyourglowpodcast
Adrienne Bennett creates content that invites people to go within to cultivate a loving relationship with self! Through her writing, video affirmations and podcast she can encourage you to break down self-judgement and nurture your inner world so your natural beauty will shine!
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