What Is Self-Love?

The Power of Self-Love

Self-love is one of those mystical things in life that is completely within your control. However, at the same time, it feels so influenced by the outside world.

If I’m honest with myself, I am not even sure if I knew what self-love truly meant for most of my life. Social media is buzzing with #selflove all the time, but at its core, what is it?

How to Define Self-Love

Self-love isn’t all bubble baths and champagne, either. Some days, self-love looks like a Netflix binge and queso. Other days, it’s giving yourself a pedicure and treating yourself to that trip to Starbucks you have wanted.

No matter what it looks like, it changes you from the inside out.

Something magical happens when you prioritize your own happiness. You begin to see yourself again. The real you.

When we get trapped in a mindset of, “I’m not good enough,” we quite literally alter the way we see our own reflection. We look at ourselves in the mirror, and our minds say, “Not good enough. Too many stretch marks! Look at those love handles!”

Why You Are Enough

Babe, let me tell you something: you are good enough, you are beautiful, you are powerful, and you are unstoppable.

Those thoughts you have when you look at your reflection? Those are lies you have heard from yourself and others for years that you have convinced yourself are the truth.

Love yourself enough to do the work to overcome these struggles. To be honest, it takes work, but you are worth it. The true art of self-love is recognizing your feelings, needs, and thoughts and being able to adjust and treat yourself accordingly.

How to Recognize Self-Love

Self-love is recognizing when you need a break and taking it. It means respecting your body by taking good care of it. Self-love is wearing the clothes that make you feel good, not what society says is “in” right now. It is no longer asking other people for permission to do the things that make your soul shine.

Self-love is accepting your body for what it is rather than tearing it apart every time you look in the mirror. It’s standing up for what you believe in, even if that means standing alone.

All of this and more is what self-love is about, and when you have it in your life, everything will change for the better.

What Should You Do Next?

Right now, you might be ready to go light some candles, harness that positive energy, and love yourself, but just remember to keep those vibes going every day!

Self-love is an inside job, and no one can do the work but you. I’m not sure who needs to hear this, but just know that all those areas you have struggled in — the ones you are thinking about right now and saying, “But if I take care of me, that will suffer” — those areas will improve dramatically when you just breathe and love yourself through it.

When you take care of you and love yourself for who you are, it pours into every aspect of your life. Family, friends, and work will become more joyful, because your mindset is right and you know exactly who you are and what you are about.

When you are true to YOU, all the puzzle pieces start to come together. Do the work, even when it’s hard, and watch the beautiful puzzle that is you take shape. You are going to love the person you see standing before you!