Wellness Blog
Associate Therapist, Sarah Al Baawadh
Do you remember being asked about things you love about yourself but having nothing or minimum things to say? However, you feel more comfortable counting things you love about others. Growing up in an environment where love is not portrayed, you felt that you needed to provide and work hard to hear the word “I love you” or get accepted can transform into self-neglect and dependency on others. Giving more than you can, working hard to please others, breaking boundaries and saying yes even if it feels like a no, and being hungry to be loved and accepted is what happens to our minds, thoughts, and bodies when we are not loved or accepted growing up.
Self-love is loving, appreciating, accepting, and respecting your-self without harming others. Once you focus on yourself, your body, and mind, you might feel a sense of guilt and start questioning yourself … does this feel right?
The first time you say no to someone, will feel great and awful at the same time. You might experience guilt, you might be treated differently or manipulated to change your no to a yes, and you might end up breaking that boundary … but at least you are trying.
When I started practicing self-love, I went through a period where I still did not love myself, but because I was putting myself first, I also experienced lack of what I thought was love from people I did not put in front of me anymore. This period was scary, empty, and dark! However, I was able to find the light and shine again, the light was within me. Here are some ways you can practice self-love and find the light within you.
You can pick one to work on at a time, self-love is being patient with yourself and choosing the practice or the ritual that fits well within your body, mind, and emotions.
“Loving yourself isn’t vanity, its sanity” —Andre Gide.
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