Hey you,
Yes you, the one reading this. Don't just give this article a glance, but instead read it carefully and take it to heart. As young girls, we grow up itching to find our own "true love." We watch Disney princess movies and the only things we are concerned about are finding our prince charming, falling in love, and living happily every after.
But that isn't the reality of love. In order to love someone else, you need to learn how to love yourself first. Most people don't understand how to love themselves, but it's pretty simple. Be alone for a while, explore the world, go on vacation with your family, submerge yourself into another culture, take a workout class or find a book that interests you. Just try to find yourself by doing things you love to do.
Usually, this self-journey doesn't tend to begin until after we've already had our hearts broken by the wrong person. I think we need to learn how to love ourselves before the heartbreak in order to experience true love in the future.
You might say learning to love yourself isn't easy. So how did I learn you ask?
Along with most other girls, I grew up wanting to find love and wanting to fill a void that never really existed. I always thought there was something missing and I let myself believe that something was actually a someone. I was so wrong. I thought what I experienced was love and after I lost it, I would never find it again. It wasn't until after my first "love" when I realized I needed to learn more about who I was. That way, when the right person came along, I could simply be myself and not someone I wasn't.
By the time you actually find love again, you'll be a little older and you'll truly know who you are. This will help you make the next relationship last. You will not only have a deeper understanding of who you are, but you will also know what you want and you'll be able to go after it. When you experience a bad relationship, take the time to heal and don't rush into the arms of the next person who brings you temporary happiness. Give yourself time to grow.
For me, I found myself the best group of friends who always love and support me. They have been there for me while I was learning how to love myself. So to you, my friends, thank you. Without you, I would have never been able to reach my full potential. But to the one who made me realize I needed to love myself, I thank you also.
Never give up on yourself and never forget that:
“The power you have is to be the best version of yourself you can be, so you can create a better world.” By Ashley Rickards.
