While we all can vouch for understanding the idea of self love, can we all say we wholeheartedly commit to it? While browsing the internet, I recently came across this quote down below that summarises how our relationship with ourselves reflects in the world we live and experience.
“People can only meet you, as deeply as they’ve met themselves”
Think of it this way, each and every interaction you make, every conversation, every journey you venture, will only ever be as broad or as miniscule as the depth that you have already found within yourself. What does that actually mean? Well, in a nutshell, you need to invest within yourself, to see that same value reflect back onto you from the world. The world is a response to the compassionate love and nurture you feed yourself.
While sure, you could go on from reading this and decide to read new books, have some self-care allotted times with baths, bubbles, things that you love like watching sports and gambling with the newest sports betting sites for example. The real message we are looking at here goes beyond what you purposefully make time to do for yourself, but in reality the devotion and priority you are ready to give yourself always. A commitment.
How Do You Actually Practice Self-Love?
So, the next question you must ask yourself is, how do you actually go onto achieving that? Well, while the results do not just happen overnight, they first must entirely consist of you living as honestly as you possibly can with yourself. ‘To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom, and obviously, Socrates was right. The moment you open up to yourself and truly admit what you are and what you are not, that is the opening to growth. That is where you surpass the comfort of what you are and seek what is better for you. This does not mean to take yourself to a corner and consistently criticize and talk badly to yourself, as negative affirmations actually become us and consume us entirely over progressional time. You must speak what you wish for yourself, to yourself. Speak it into existence but with care and kindness.
We also must remember that self-love is never just you swimming in a pool of your desires and pleasures, sometimes it means you must dedicate yourself to do the tasks that you do not particularly like doing. Why? Because that is where the missing nurture that you need is, that is where you can discover more of who you truly are.
Setting Boundaries-Even Against Yourself
While people often confuse self-love with the idea of comfort, comfort can actually be the sworn enemy of love, as it can limit potential. This is not me telling you to ditch self-care, as we all need it every now and again. It’s more of you actively being ready to set boundaries to prevent yourself from falling into the trap of comfort, which ultimately sacrifices success in the long run. Sometimes, for the sake of a long-term goal, you need to have the discipline to see it through. The best future self or higher self version of you will need the investment of the present, to make it happen.
Meditate to Be Present
Meditation is a key to opening a larger part of your entity as a whole. It has medicinally been proven to awaken and activate parts of your brain which in turn heighten awareness, concentration and reduce inflammation. Sure, you may not spiritually be driven to meditate, but science has given us a clear understanding that mediation brings us inward to ourselves and heightens a personal connection. To meditate is not to overthink, but to put a pause between you and the outgoing world. Think of self-love in a similar context.
Self-love is always about setting boundaries to prevent sacrificing pieces of yourself that in turn do not compensate for your value and worth. Meditation allows you to be present within yourself and evaluate your value in every life-given equation. If you are wondering what the best resource is to begin mediation try Headspace, which is very easygoing and will allow you to build that frame of mind to sink deeply into it as you practice.
While we are constantly racing away to achieve our goals, getting too caught up for the sake of the future can cause neglect of the present. Remember to live, to breathe, and be in tune with you in this very existing moment. The future is nothing if you are not whole to meet it there. Invest in you, and all will gravitate to you as it should.
