If we can #TBT to a couple weeks ago when I talked about how I am now the happiest I have ever been, I can tell you that it's been a very long journey, but it's been overall worthwhile in every aspect I can imagine. There was a time in my life that I tied being happy to looking a certain way, and I realize now that being happy with yourself doesn't solely mean looking a certain way or weighing a certain amount. Though it's taken me a long time (years and years, people) to overcome that connection, I genuinely believe that I have learned how to love myself for all the right reasons. And for those of you that might be on that same journey, and maybe have hit a rough patch or two, I'd like to offer some motivational snippets of what I've learned through this entire process.
You stop caring about what people say/think about you.
It's easy to get caught up in how many likes you have on instagram, the amount of followers you have, or even the way that people look or talk to you in daily life. I can tell you, though, that when you finally realize your full potential and value, none of these things matter, and a lot of their opinions are irrelevant. What truly matters is what you think of yourself, and at the end of the day, your character matters more than your reputation. Doing things in confidence often shows people that you value your own opinion more than theirs, and that's a beautiful thing.
Your days are more meaningful.
Everyday I attempt to fill my schedule with things to do, whether it be classes and studying, or endless hours of tumblr (because really there is nothing wrong with a couple hours on the internet amiright), or even just spending some time talking to my friends. You learn to see each day as it's own independent 24-hour period, and the collection of those days makes time go slower and really makes you appreciate the life that you have. Sometimes, it's easy to feel like life is passing you by, but putting more into your day and taking the time to smell the roses (both metaphorically and literally, because roses smell rly good) can make you appreciate a lot more.
You are happy.
Loving yourself opens up so many new parameters to explore how wonderful life is, because you're no longer restricting yourself based on how you appear to others. It's an exhilarating feeling to be able to explore all of life's wonders freely and without restriction from yourself. Being happy is also contagious, which tends to make the other people around you happy and that is pretty cool if I do say so myself.
You do your own thing.
I know that I've always kind of been an "off the beaten path" kind of girl, but now that I've figured out who I am (for the most part), I feel comfortable straying away from the social norms (that are totally okay to follow if you want to!!!) and doing me. It is my own life and no one has to understand it but me. If I go through a phase of only listening to classical piano music and wearing animal socks with penny loafers, so be it.
You can inspire others.
This truly takes the cake. One of the greatest gifts I feel anyone can ever give is the gift of inspiration; the idea that someone can see what you have done and be inspired to go after what they want with you in mind! How cool is that?!?!?!?!?! Once you've learned to love yourself, you can help others find how to love themselves as well, and we can all grow as a self-love community! (think of the pastabilities, guys).
Keep in mind that loving yourself is not a switch that you can turn on and suddenly everything is better. It's a long process of ups and downs (it has a lot in part to do with how you look at life), and a lot of times you can say that you don't really want to change and abruptly stop the process all together. It's important to remember that there is no perfect way to learn how to love yourself, but it's a true human experience when you can figure it out in your own way, and I only hope that we can push our generation, and the generations to come, to accept self-love with open arms, and hopefully change the way that people think of themselves.
