Blog 14

Self Love

How do you show love for yourself? We are so good at showing love for other people through compliments, gifts, gratitude, and spending time with them. But how do you show the same kind of love to yourself? How are you showing up for yourself every single day? Oftentimes we overextend ourselves to make others happy, and we forget to pause for self-care.

I, like many others, am trying to get on the fit track. So I set up a rigorous schedule and began lifting weights and increasing my cardio. I have been trying to attain the most possible steps I can get in one day. I’ve been tracking, tracking, tracking. However, today I decided that it was time to just listen to my body. Today my body didn't want to lift weights. Instead, it wanted to smell the peppermint and eucalyptus oils emitting from my diffuser and work on some deep breathing. Today I needed to meditate and to quiet my racing thoughts. I needed time to visualize and let the clutter flow out of my brain. In order to listen to my body, I decided to do some gentle yoga and stretch the areas that were holding tension. It felt good to listen to my body and to fulfill its needs. Take the time to thank your body for all it does for you.

Thank you for my eyes that are seeing clearly through my window to watch the sunrise.

Thank you for my legs that continue to carry me through my home and help me get to where I desire to be.

Thank you for my heart that continually beats.

Thank you for my brain that helps me complete my daily functions.

Thank you for my soul that helps me to feel compassion and love for myself and others.

Thank you for my hands that help me type all day long.

I challenge you to take care of your body, mind, and spirit. I have learned that I often overextend myself with social engagements. Yes, even in the middle of a pandemic. I may have too many Zoom meetings with friends, too many socially-distant trips to the lake, and too many projects to finish up around the house. Sometimes I just have to stop and force myself to pause. When I stop, I'm able to fill myself up with so much more love and joy.

I have learned that I must set boundaries for myself. Those boundaries include only setting up social engagements during the week, otherwise I become too overwhelmed. I have also learned how to tell people what I want and need. I'm able to tell my husband where I want to go for dinner, what I would like for my birthday, and what my desires are for the future. I have also learned to say no. Sometimes saying no is the most difficult task because you don't want to hurt someone's feelings. But if you are committed to something because you feel like you're obligated to do it, then you're not doing it for the right reasons anyway. Sometimes putting yourself first is the hardest thing to do, but it is very important to take care of yourself. When you take care of yourself, you are able to take care of the rest of the people that you love.