OK, yes. Cliche after cliche, we hear how you should love who you are and be comfortable in your own skin. However, I'm skipping all the nonsense and giving you the psychological benefits.
One day, I woke up and decided that if my parents love me, and my boyfriend loves me, and my friends love me, why can't I love myself? Why can't I just decide to be a part of my own life and stop fighting to be someone I'm not?
I can tell you that it has changed me. I am a happier person, and I am naturally less worried about everything around me or how people perceive me.
I can tell you that it will change you.
1. Who really cares what other people think?
Like, really. So what if you do something embarrassing? Becoming more embarrassed will only cause pity, but if you laugh at yourself, people tend to follow your mood.
2. Why not love yourself?
This is the biggest question I grappled with. You are you, and that's all there needs to be. Changing who you are because of someone else is decidedly the wrong way to live your life.
3. You can't be who you're not.
Plain and simple, you can't change your personality. You can hide it and fight it all you want, but accepting yourself as you are will create a happier lifestyle.
4. That weight you feel? It'll be gone.
I'm serious. You don't feel the weight of your own self-loathing until it lifts off of you. It's almost like taking off a ten pound bag off your back.
5. You're worth it.
You really are. You're beautiful. You're you, and that's the best person you can ever hope to be. Don't ever let someone else tell you who you are and what you're capable of.
6. Only you know you best.
Many times in our society, people tell us "you're so weird" or "you're crazy". Have you ever had someone tell you that when it wasn't true? It isn't something you should accept; don't live your life to their expectations. Understand that only you know the real you, and that should be enough to love yourself.
7. Changing who you are isn't worth it.
You're born as you, and that isn't going to change. Being true to you is better than being fake to others.
8. You'll find that you have more love for others.
Once you start to believe in who you are, and others stay with you, you'll start to have more love capability than you ever imagined.
9. You need yourself.
You're the sole person that can control what you need, and sometimes all you need is yourself.
10. Treat yo' self.
It's time to believe that you come first. Buy yourself that chocolate bar. Stare at the sky and know that you matter. Once you love yourself, it'll be easy to treat yourself to everything you've wanted in life.
11. You're essential.
Who you are is an essential part of the world, whether that world is a planet or just someone's personal love. You're meant for something.
