When you think about loving yourself, what comes to mind?
For me, that always meant accepting myself and having confidence in my abilities and decisions. But in the process of writing this blog post, I’ve questioned if that what it really means.
Loving Yourself
I was lucky to be raised by a mother who instilled an almost un-shakeable sense of self confidence in me. Looking back she did that by making me feel that my opinions and thoughts were valid and important, which in turn made me trust and accept myself. If someone were to ask me if I love myself, I would answer yes and because I love to help people, I would probably offer some advice on how they could love themselves also.
Which is actually what happened when I started to write this post.
My original post was good and I was quite proud of it actually, but when my 18 year old daughter read it she said it wasn’t what she expected me to write. She thought I was going to write about my personal experience with loving myself.
And that got me thinking.
Saying I love myself was tied to accepting and trusting myself. It’s a feeling.
The act of loving myself comes from how I treat myself. And sometimes I don’t treat myself very well.
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection” – Buddha
Over the last several years I’ve taken my good health for granted. I’ve postponed doctor and dental visits, I’ve gained weight and I’ve let myself get out of shape. Hardly how you would treat someone you love, right?
You show your love for your spouse, parent or children by taking care of them and treating them with kindness, compassion and respect. Why is is so hard for us to treat ourselves the same way?
So now, thanks to my amazing daughter. I realize that while I do accept myself, I don’t always show love to myself and that’s something I’m going to work on in 2017.
Thank you Jacqueline. ?
This #BloggersTalkingAbout series features amazing bloggers writing from the heart. Continue reading more by following these links. Loving Yourself by Joanne | Loving Yourself This Valentine’s Day by Traci | New Routine & New Doctor by Karen | Care For Yourself By Reducing Anxiety & Worry by Karen | Permission To Cry by Brandy | Caring For Myself In My First Trimester by Jenny. If you’re a mom/female blogger, join us in our group, Bodacious Bloggers.
Hi Joanne,
I LOVED this post.
It’s a great reminder that sometimes we do rely on “feelings” when it comes to loving ourselves, but I do that loving yourself is a choice. My acting on that love and deciding every day to love yourself, it does become a feeling.
I sometimes wonder how often my days are driven by feelings and how I can be more intentional in my actions and by my choice to just love everything about myself. Not just me, physically, mentally and so on, but where I am in life. Just loving it even if it isn’t all that I would love to be doing.
Thanks for the encouragement,
Nadalie, It’s All You Boo
That sounds like a wonderful goal. Use it to motivate yourself.
So true. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in taking care of those around me I forget to care for myself.
It’s so true that we as women tend to be the nurturers of everyone but ourselves! I really intend to make 2017 the year of breakthroughs in various areas for me and my hubby, and one big area is health and fitness. It does help to have a support system of other women who can empathize, encourage, and even scold, if necessary! I really appreciate the members of my various Facebook groups – and leaders like you! 😉 Thanks!
As Dr. Phil loves to say, love is a noun and a verb. I am not at all surprised that you were raised in that manner. You are a dynamo and much the person I always aspire to be. But the reminder that you still have to act in love for yourself is a good one for all of us. I certainly struggle there.
Thank you for sharing yourself so honestly and eloquently.
XOXO
Traci
We really do tend to help others instead of taking care of ourselves! Good point!!
That sounds like a good plan to me. Get the healthcare you need for yourself before it is too late.