Who are you? Do you know what it is you truly want in life and why? Do you love you?
“The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself.” Maya Angelou
With nothing more than a leap of faith, a dash of hope and a sprinkle of courage, I took the plunge and created the Focus on WHY podcast to address and answer these questions.
The lesson I found was to first understand the connection that you have deep within yourself to then understand the connectedness you have with others. It is your responsibility to focus on you, to love yourself and to believe that you are enough.
Self-love and self-care are not selfish. They are a necessity. They demonstrate a high level of understanding of your own well-being and happiness. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself before you can help others. Burnout, stress and overwhelm are not badges of honour. Use your natural effervescence to fuel your life.
Self-love is about being true to you. Unleash the brilliance within and believe that you are worthy, that you are enough already and you do not need to seek any external validation to justify this.
Do you understand who you are and what your uniqueness offers to the world? When you are at peace with yourself, you are practicing self-love. When you love yourself, you will have more inclination and energy to love others. Prioritise you, be true to yourself to live an authentic life.
“Every one of us needs to show how much we care for one another and, in the process, how much we care for ourselves.” Diana, Princess of Wales
Do you find it easy to accept compliments, gifts, time, generosity or attention from others? If you show deep self-love and self-worth, all these will come naturally enabling others to also show self-love too.
“Being kind to yourself is one of the greatest kindnesses. We often wait for kindness but being kind to yourself can start now.” Charlie Mackesy
Self-care is a way to practice self-love. It encompasses all the acts of nurturing your physical, mental and emotional well-being. How do you practice self-care? In no particular order, here are some suggestions:
Sleep.
Relax.
Eat healthily. Food is fuel!
Exercise to boost endorphins.
Practice forgiveness.
Seek out fulfilling work.
Watch the sunrise and sunset.
Sing, dance, smile and laugh.
Practice daily positive affirmations.
Journal away negative thoughts, acknowledge them and rewrite them as positive statements.
Practice gratitude daily.
Check your inner dialogue. Be kind to yourself.
Change your thoughts by changing your language.
Practice mindfulness.
Learn and grow.
Find your happy place where you feel at ease and calm.
Keep a book of all your wins, strengths, achievements, best qualities and opportunities.
Be patient and persistent.
Your time and energy are your most precious resources. Be mindful how you use them and protect them. Say no to things that are not needed in your life to preserve your boundaries. Show people how they are to treat you by showing them how you treat yourself. Love yourself and you will be loved.
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ACTION POINT
Practice self-care and self-love today. Listen to you. Respect you. Focus on you!
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