THE EPITOME OF SELF LOVE

“Self-care is never a selfish act, it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we can listen to our true self and give ourselves the love we require, we do it not only for ourselves but for the many others whose lives we touch.” - Parker Palmer

Self-love is not self-glorification, it’s an acknowledgment that you were born to shine so bright that others begin to see the value in themselves after being touched by your light. So if the end goal of self-love is to ultimately make others see the value in themselves, how then, can self-care, a component of self-love be a selfish act? Self-love consists of multiple components, and one can’t love themselves fully if they don’t indulge in these 8 components of self-love.

• Self Awareness: To love ourselves we must first discover who we are–limitless light beings who cannot be easily defined for our consciousness is infinite and our ability to expand is limitless. We must redefine our self-worth and acknowledge that our self-worth is defined by the divinity and righteousness of the soul and purity of our hearts. Once we have come to that level of self-awareness we open ourselves up to deeper levels of self-awareness where we learn to face those dark aspects of ourselves that need changing. Through self-awareness, we can begin to transform from the person we used to be to align ourselves with the person we were destined to become. This moves us more into alignment with purpose and solidifies our self-worth allowing us to positively move forward in further acts of self-love.

• Self-Forgiveness: Self-forgiveness allows us to flourish within and without. Learning to forgive ourselves for all of our past mistakes opens up space for growth. It’s through self-forgiveness that we allow ourselves to be better because we aren’t dwelling on those past events where we’ve given our worst.  Mistakes are simply learning experiences that we undergo for our personal development. Don’t hold grudges, especially against yourself. Dismantle those habitual acts of negative self-judgment so that you can step into the process of self-acceptance and experience true inner peace.

• Self-Acceptance: Accepting ourselves for who we are is an intricate part of our self-love process. The need to put on a facade for others rather than simply being our authentic selves is our subconscious need for social approval. We often seek validation from sources outside of ourselves because we aren’t truly accepting of ourselves. Boasting, or hiding aspects of oneself is a sign of validation-seeking behavior. When we truly accept ourselves, we aren’t worried about what others think of us because we are self-assured, and we are happy with ourselves and who we are in all our uniqueness.

• Self-Expression:  Don’t be shy, or ashamed to show people your authentic expression of self no matter how awkward or uncanny you may think it to be. Remember those words were just created by society to describe uniqueness, to describe things or people who are extraordinary. If it’s different then it isn’t ordinary. Utilize your talents to be creative and express yourself.  Be courageous. Fear of judgment is a subconscious need for external approval. Remember we approve of ourselves and God approves of you. Those approvals are the only ones that truly matter. You’ll be surprised how often you inspire others to do the same and live in their truth too. 

• Self-Trust: This is a no-brainer. If you don’t trust yourself, nobody is going to trust you. What you give yourself is what you receive from others. Learn to trust yourself in whatever situation. Don’t ever doubt your choices in life. If your soul agrees with whatever you are embarking on it, then go with it. Self-trust is a major component of self-love. You have to trust yourself. 

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• Self-Empowerment: In everything you do, invest in yourself by investing in your mind, investing in your talent, investing in your physical health, investing in your emotional health, investing in your spiritual well-being, and exercising your creativity.  You are special and unique and no one on this earth was created just like you. Self-enrichment is a form of appreciation and you’ll never seek it elsewhere if you are consistently giving it to yourself first and foremost. 

• Self-Respect: A well-established level of self-respect helps you set boundaries. Self-respect enunciates your self-worth. When giving yourself love, self-respect is one of the best ways to do this. When you have respect for yourself you’ll have a zero tolerance level for others who want to come into your life and think they can disrespect you. When we emanate self-respect we become a magnet for receiving it from others because it’s something we earn, not something that is to be demanded. 

• Self-Care: The value you place on your body determines how well you nurture it. When we value ourselves we don’t neglect our health. Our bodies need persistent maintenance. Those who value themselves will of course eat healthier, and be more cautious about what they put into their bodies. Their emotional and mental health will become a priority so they’ll be more cautious of who they allow or keep in their social circle. They overstand the importance of balance between work and self-indulgence. 

Self-love is nurtured in healthy relationships that exemplify unconditional love. The common gift that we all share as spiritual beings having a human experience is love, but one cannot supply what one does not possess. When we love ourselves completely we can pour love into others around us because our cups are substantially full. We will value ourselves and take responsibility for our feelings and open ourselves up to a world where we are drawn to people who love themselves too and are open to sharing love rather than just receiving it. Those who self-love stop attracting people who don’t have the capacity to reciprocate it and invite themselves into a new experience where love is more abundant in their lives and life feels much more euphoric.