I look back at my school years and wonder why the focus wasn’t more on teaching us about the things we actually need – taxes, living in the world, the power of purpose, and ultimately, self-love. Aren’t these the foundations for humanity that could ultimately make and shake the world as we know it? Is it crazy that we leave home, leave school, get on with life, and have billions of people in our world going – hold on, how the f* do I love myself?
With all the hurtling forces in the world thriving on constantly making you feel not enough, including media and advertising, childhood experiences that shook us, those school years and all the conditioning, in fact, a lifetime and more of conditioning, and the constant doubt and bullying from those unrelenting thoughts, it’s no wonder we can find self love such a foreign concept.
Self love though is not a concept, a trend, or a beauty campaign slogan. It ultimately comes down to a way of life. A commitment to live in a way that supports, and says yes to you.
The meaning of Self Love has been seriously bastardised and confused as brands all over the planet have taken these two words and turned them into something that makes you believe you’re a purchase away from feeling you, yourself are enough.
If you remove all the lies, it’s obvious that actually, self love is really about a responsibility and a commitment to yourself, at every moment. Though it’s also important to not get caught up in making it only about yourself. We can misconstrue self love and self care for being self consumed, and we forget that by loving us, the point is that we can actually show up more, and offer more of that to everyone else. Isn’t that ultimately the point of this all, and what the world needs now? Love, sweet love? Ah It appears so.
This commitment to you can be brought into every part of your day by considering how everything supports you. How you put your shoes on, how you apply your makeup, how you close the door behind you, what you choose to eat. Not perfect of course, but be on your side, always, or as much as you can be. Self love can’t really be reduced to an hour a week, but if that’s a starting point, then do it well.
Below are 12 ways that have helped me bring more self love into my life;