With Valentine’s Day ahead of us, love seems to be the theme of the day. And – don’t get me wrong - love should be the theme of the day. The only thing is, let’s focus on self-love first, as only then, loving others becomes this truly magical thing. And LBH, you deserve to be loved, especially and most of all by the person you’ll be spending the rest of your days with. Yes, that’s YOU.
Practicing self-love can be challenging, especially in times when things are tough. Like... well, like now. Self-love is not about being self-absorbed or narcissistic, it’s about getting in touch with yourself, your well-being and your happiness. Here’s a few things you can do, every day, to get that love flowing.
1. Be kind to yourself
Start the day by sharing something positive about yourself, with yourself. ‘Hey, your smile is powerful’ or ‘You delivered some great work yesterday’. Whatever it is, say it out loud. It feels uncomfortable in the beginning, but you’ll get used to it. And if words don’t do the trick for you. Give yourself a big hug. But really. Wrap your arms around yourself, and hug. Believe me, it feels good. I tried. More than once.
2. Get your daily dose of health through food
Support your body with a balanced, healthy diet full of veggies, vitamins and minerals. And drink loads of water. Okay, I’m not a saint when it comes down to this point. I eat chocolate, I can eat loads of it. The word balanced doesn’t even apply here. Thanks for that, Tony’s Chocolonely! But hey, I do know (from experience!) I feel at my best when my meals are balanced, healthy, and tasteful, and when I feel they're actually serving my body. So, I encourage you to give it a try. Rens Kroes, here we come!
3. Move
Move that gorgeous body of yours, and appreciate it for taking you this far. Don’t simply do something because you have to. That’s never gonna be fun. Do something because you care for yourself, and you’re worth caring for. Choose something you like doing, big or small. Make a morning walk, do yoga, run, whatever it is, love yourself for doing it. Be proud of taking care of yourself, and your body.
For the yogis (to be): I personally love following the online classes of Delight Yoga but there’s apps like Down Dog to get you going too.
4. Practice some serious self-care
Here at Greenbeauty Market, we’re big fans of non-toxic beauty. And if we say non-toxic beauty, we're not just talking about the ingredients. We're also talking about the message we’re sending out into the world. I want this to be a non-toxic message. One of self-acceptance, and self-loving. One of empowerment, and inclusivity. One of respect, and appreciation. Self-care leads to self-love. Lighting yourself a candle, when sitting at home alone. Nourishing your body with a relaxing body oil, and appreciating its unique beauty. Covering yourself in your favourite perfume, because you love to be carried away by its scent. You do these things for you. That’s why it’s important.
5. Tune in with yourself on a daily base
Take a few minutes off, and tune in with yourself. Spend some time with you, and you only. Check in with how you feel. Do you do this regularly? Just sit down, and feel? No watching Netflix, no sleeping (!), no listening to your favourite podcast. Just doing nothing, and feeling all the feels. It can be challenging. I know. But syncing in with your feelings, your intuition, your inner compass, will in the end help you find your way. Quoting Einstein (always a good idea) ‘The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.’. So stop listening to the voices in your head, and shift your attention to the feelings inside of you. They’ll show you the way.
