Hello Giggles - love thyself

LOVE THYSELF

by Sarah May Bates

It’s natural to want to be better. To want to improve something, fix your flaws, to challenge yourself to become a better you. As we do these things, it’s easy to raise our expectations to the point that we lose sight of our self-acceptance. When our ambition cancels out our self-love, it removes our enjoyment of life. For today, perhaps challenge yourself to recognize your efforts. Imagine that you are exactly who and where you ought to be. Be gentle with yourself today.

Trusting in the process of your personal growth can sometimes be the key to making it happen. When we can stop self-criticism and accept ourselves as we are, sometimes we can see that person much more clearly. Many times there are myths we tell ourselves over a lifetime about who we are, that we never think to question. Sometimes they come from someone else and what they’ve told us about who we are. Sometimes they are self-judgments we’ve internalized about who we are, but they are the judgments of a younger and more misguided self. Think of your petty side, your weaknesses and character flaws. The faults you’ve always known you’ve had. Now question whether or not they are true. If so, how do you know that? What proof of them exists as of late?

I don’t underestimate how well we get to know ourselves with each new day. And yes, we all have a reflection process that we must go through to arrive at our understanding. One that often includes self-judgment; we must challenge ourselves to catalyze change. When we want more from ourselves it challenges us to change our behavior: discontent can inspire movement toward contentment. But just for a change in perspective, today imagine that you are perfect right now. Look at yourself and think that you are exactly as you should be. You are on the right path and in the midst of growth that leads you exactly where you need to go. Acknowledge your struggles and appreciate that you are moving through them. Recognize how strong you are. Know that you cannot go faster, your pace is just as it should be. While you’re in this state look around and see what life looks like, what it feels like. See what You look like from this vantage point. Maybe decide to keep this place for a future visit. For a day you could use a little relief.  Or a day you are feeling drained by disappointment.

I believe our ideal self is already within us. Sometimes it just takes us a while to recognize who that is.

Happy Sunday, lovely people! xox Sarah