I heard the phrase, “love yourself,” countless times while growing up. And time and time again, I’ve shoved the phrase aside. We’ve all heard it, seen it on billboards, in TV campaigns, and on sticky notes on the mirror that say, “you’re beautiful.” I don’t consciously shove it aside because I think it's unimportant, but because it’s so hard to achieve -- to love your whole self.
Love is a heavy topic to begin with, but when you take the topic of love and put it with the concept of "yourself” it seems almost ridiculous to fall in love with yourself. But after many years, these two words that are painted beautifully, have finally reconciled within me.
It’s hard to believe in loving someone you’ve torn down mentally your whole life. Someone you’ve looked at in the mirror and immediately hated. Someone you’ve compared to others. Someone you’ve never found content with. You’ve picked apart the flaws, imperfections, and negative aspects. Someone you’ve never been comfortable with. When that someone is you, does that not reconcile with you?
The one who has been tearing you down is your own thoughts in your head. Your worst critic is you. So why do you let the voice inside of your head tell you that you’re not good enough?
When you think about loving another person, you think about showering them with affection. Treating them with everything that they deserve. You’d adore them. With loving someone else, you want to give them your best. The thought of hurting them would break your heart. If you are able to love someone else like that, why wouldn't you treat yourself the same way? Shouldn't the thought of hurting yourself break your heart?
Loving yourself isn’t selfish, although most people perceive others who love themselves as cocky and stuck up. In reality, they are probably just jealous of others' self-confidence. It’s admiring when someone can appreciate themselves for who they are.
As eye rolling as it can seem, loving yourself will change your lifestyle. As hard as it is to fully accept who you are, once it’s done, I can assure you that you will notice a change in how you go about things. You'll be happier. You won't compare yourselves to others. You won't worry what others are thinking about you. You will be fully confident in your own shoes.
It’s the small things -- like waking up in the morning, looking in the mirror and appreciating what you’ve been given. It's knowing that you're you for a reason. No one else can compare to your unique qualities. There’s only one of you. Why waste your time tearing yourself down?
