With the rise of social media, “self-love” has become an often-discussed topic in our society. But what does it really mean? And is it really worth all the hype?
Depending on whom you ask, some may say that the concept of self-love is overrated. This article doesn’t aim to prove anyone right or wrong… But if you ask me, I’d say that the concept of self-love isn’t expressed nearly enough. I guess it all comes down to each individual’s personal experiences.
In Mark 12:31, scripture commands us to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But far too often, we don’t put enough emphasis on the second part—as yourself. We often fail to realize that self-love is the beginning of true love.
In this article, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on what self-love really means (to me), and what has led me on this journey.
What Self-Love Means to Me
Let me begin by saying that self-love is more than just a trend. Through self-love, we can learn to have a deeper appreciation and acceptance for ourselves, both physically and emotionally.
Depending on whom you ask or where you look, you’ll find several definitions of self-love. After all, we all have different needs, and it often looks different for everyone. Lately, I’ve found myself pondering on what self-love really means to me, and what I hope to achieve on this journey.
In essence, self-love is the foundation for a happier, healthier ME. It involves living life on my own terms, making choices that support my well-being, strengthening my relationship with myself, and treating myself with kindness and compassion when I need it most.
Self-love means doing the hard things, like going after my dreams, even when it’s frightening and uncomfortable. Most importantly, it means being confident enough to see myself the way God sees me.
The truth is, reading inspirational posts about self-love and actually loving ourselves are two different things. I encourage you to reflect on what self-love really means to you, and start working on improving your own personal journey.
My Journey to Self-Love
Growing up, I considered myself to be a fairly confident and optimistic girl. But somewhere along the way, I lost touch with who I was.
A few years ago, I struggled with silent battles of insecurity and negative self-talk. These issues were pretty severe—and seemed to have come out of nowhere.
The truth is that life can be full of demands and distractions. And if we’re not mindful—we can easily lose ourselves in other people, their opinions, our mistakes, our responsibilities—and so much more. Realizing that my peace and happiness was slowly slipping away, I started seeking change.
Over time, through prayer and several personal occurrences, God led me on this journey of self-love.
Basically, I had to go inward to find out what was missing. The more I reconnected with myself, the more empowered I began to feel. I slowly adopted new habits that have changed the way I view myself and the world around me.
Through self-love, I’ve reevaluated my values and priorities. I’m not easily swayed by what other people think. And I have a more positive approach to life’s challenges.
Basically, I had to go inward to find out what was missing. The more I reconnected with myself, the more empowered I began to feel.
Practicing Self-Love
One thing I’ve discovered on my journey, is that loving yourself is hard work. Self-love requires ongoing practice, daily intentionality, and self-accountability. It involves acknowledging the good… and the not-so-good things about ourselves… and adjusting accordingly.
But like most things in life, loving ourselves becomes easier with practice.
Here are a few ways you can cultivate more self-love through your daily habits:
- Use positive affirmations to correct harmful thought-patterns that hinder your well-being.
- Commit to making self-care a priority.
- Engage in activities that promote self-expression.
- Acknowledge your past experiences and embrace self-forgiveness.
- Assert boundaries.
- Be honest (with yourself and others) about your needs and limitations.
- Reflect on what you’re grateful for.
- Focus on your strengths and achievements (instead of focusing solely on your weaknesses and failures).
- Become more self-aware throughout your day.
- Spend time alone.
Ultimately, by embracing self-love, we can achieve a greater sense of joy, purpose, and fulfillment in life. But the journey isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, as some might have you believe. In fact, loving yourself may be one of the hardest things you’ll ever learn to do. But it’s completely worth the effort. Because when you commit to loving yourself from the inside, things on the outside start falling into place!
