A few weeks ago I got a text from a good friend asking me "How does one love their self again?" As I read the text I had to take a moment to ponder that question. How does one truly find love for their self again? I think self-love is something we all have to maintain to live a healthy balanced life. I also think that it is something a good chunk of people struggle with. People can seem like the happiest person ever on social media sites and in person but only few know what goes on behind closed doors, and only one knows what goes on in their head. I think self-love is something we all can work on and improve. Now-a-days there are so many roadblocks that interfere with self-love. Between the media in general and the lack of love in this world trying to love one’s self is difficult. Self-love is key to keeping a healthy balanced life.
Where does the love go?
My first question is where does the love we attain at such a young age go?When we are succeeding in life and doing well we are pleased with ourselves and self-love comes easily. When we are having challenges or lows in the amount of self-love becomes lower and lower and sometimes we hit rock bottom. I think we lose scary amounts of love when those things occur. A problem I notice in myself and others is when things do go wrong we attack the easiest target we can.... ourselves. When that happens not only do we disrespect ourselves we lose self-love fast. As we grow up the responsibilities increase and the want to be accepted by others becomes important. Gaining peer approval helps one’s confidence boost and I think after one does receive that they feel fulfilled and the self-love is much. But when one does not get the approval one often blames them self and feels bad about who they are and the self-love decreases. Overall the fluctuations take a toll on one and their love for themselves. I think as we grow up the responsibilities pile on, media becomes a bigger part of our life, and the need for peer approval is relevant we slowly lose our love for ourselves and all we strive for is to fit the mold others want to see.
How do we love ourselves again?
I think self love honestly comes form within. You are your worst and best enemy. Sometimes it’s easy to love yourself. Being accepted by peers, family and friends helps build your self love. Getting a high amount of “likes” or “hearts” on social media helps too. At the end of the day you are the only person who can accept yourself for who you are. You are the only one who can self love your self. No matter how many likes your Instagram picture gets if you don’t like the shape of your nose, the outline of a double chin showing, or how big your head is the likes shouldn’t even count. Loving yourself should be simple and easy. It should not be hard at all. Being able to look in a mirror and say “Wow I look good” is so hard for many to do. Learning to love yourself is a difficult task but the key to success lies in accepting yourself for your flaws, understanding you’re going to make mistakes and not seeking peer approval all of the time.
In conclusion….
Self-love is very important. Setting aside twenty minutes each day to do something by yourself that makes you genuinely happy is a good way to start. Maybe it's doing your make up, or sitting on the couch reading a book for FUN! Giving yourself time do something you enjoy is a good first step on the path to fully loving yourself. Accepting yourself for who you are is the ultimate self-love goal. Being able to look in the mirror and be pleased with how you look and who you are is incredible. There are some people who have no problems with doing that and cheers to them. I personally believe we can improve ourselves every day. Striving for a better tomorrow is important to me. I challenge you to give yourself twenty minutes a day to just do something for yourself. Do what makes you happy. When you look in the mirror tell yourself you’re so cool. Literally be those starfish earrings off Aquamarine! The more you say it the more you will believe and see it. You’ve got to start somewhere and I challenge you to today!
