Next Friday is Valentine’s Day, and although many people associate this with romantic love, I wanted to step outside of the box and talk about self-love instead; A.K.A, loving thy self.
When was the last time you said something nice to yourself? What was it that you said? Did you give yourself praise naturally, or was it in the effort to try and compare yourself to another? Have you accepted a compliment with a sincere “Thank you” lately? If you answered “no” to most of these questions, you’re like 90% of the population so you’re not alone here, but it’s never too late to turn things around and have optimal health and love yourself; physically and mentally. Most women have a hard time seeing the positive in themselves, especially when it comes to their body image. The irony of this is that your attitude and state of mental health is directly related to your physical health; and your physical health is directly related to how you love yourself. See the correlation here? It’s outstanding. So, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, I say let’s get started and love thy self:
- Accept your body with an “all in” attitude; flaws and all – You only have one body to live in, and self-acceptance is far easier and mentally healthier than investing energy into things you don’t like about yourself. The serenity prayer could not be more true about your body image:
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
- You are what you think – There’s no denying that the success of people who embark on a weight loss journal is directly related to their attitude and believing in themself. More often than not, people will give up as soon as they believe they can’t do it. People that love themselves and believe in their abilities will succeed. Mental health = physical health.
- Forgive yourself – I see most women strive for perfection when it comes to weight loss efforts. They expect to eat perfectly, workout every day, and see results immediately. This pressure of perfection means that when they ‘fall off the wagon’, instead of forgiving themselves and understanding that they’re human, they get upset and give up instead. This is where you see a lot of people yo-yo diet and wreak havoc on their metabolism. Instead, love yourself, accept your mistakes, and forgive yourself for not being perfect. No one is perfect, and being perfect is boring anyways.
- Positive breeds more positive – When you are full of self-love, you’re a magnetic and energizing person to spend time with. When you’re negative and down on yourself, you isolate yourself and are often seen as a ‘toxic’ person. Although this isn’t fair, it’s the truth. If you start treating yourself better and practicing self-love, you will attract positive minded people that make you love and respect yourself more. Engage in an activity you’re passionate about, because this will restore your core and ultimately your mental health.
- Focus on what’s strong, not wrong – Write down what’s strong in your life so you can train your brain to stop focusing on what’s wrong. Sometimes we forget about our strengths and abilities and instead obsess over the negative. Strong mind = strong body.
Love can mean a variety of different things for different people, but when it comes to loving yourself, you must respect, embrace and treat your body and mind like it is the only vessel you have this life to live in; because it is. Say nice things to yourself (mental health), eat healthy and whole foods your body thrives on (physical health), and move your body to get your blood flowing and your heart pumping (physical health). This all will all steer you towards a life of loving yourself; and you’re worth it.
Cool Quotes
Showing you the difference between liking and loving your body,
Ashley Dale Roy
