A New year, a new YOU, right?
Many of us – myself included – started this year with new intentions; intentions on being more successful, more productive, a better lover, friend, leader, etc. We basically committed ourselves to outsourcing…of ourselves.
Outsourcing yourself can only be good in appropriate portions, ideally from a place of overflow.
It’s healthy to want to be and do better for others, but, first things first, you must take care of you. You can never be truly beneficial to anything or anyone else until you take care of you, first. Love and give from a place of overflow; this way you’ll always be fully energized and authentic in your giving.
Self-love is the most important love of all. You cannot offer another what you don’t first have inside of you.
Here are some suggestions for increasing your Self Love.
1. Practice Saying, “No.”
There truly is power in saying, ” no.” When people genuinely love you for you, and not for the usage of you, they understand an occasional “no” to their requests. And even if not understood in the moment, a real friend will give you the space to offer them clarity as time allows.
2. Treat Yourself the way you expect others to treat you.
In the month of February – and at the dawn of Cupid’s love day – it can be hard to swallow the idea of filling yourself with love, especially since every medium displays intimacy (or lack thereof) all around you, heightening your desire to be loved by another. I can attest, though, that love feels best when it comes from within. Lavish yourself with the kind of love you desire to attract. Give yourself time off with “self-love” days. Treat yourself to a funny movie or an inexpensive item you long for, or go all out; splurge if you won’t regret it later. Be kind, patient and gentle with yourself. The best way to attract a rightful love is to be loved right…by you.
3. Stay in positive thought.
Life is filled with calamity and turmoil. undesirable pain. How can you cope? Stay in positive thought. Be hopeful about what the world can be, by being a leading example of love yourself. Minimize your complaining; activate resolve instead. Smile, it’s one of the best and inexpensive gifts you can give — and you can exchange it infinite times in a day. Laugh often…especially at yourself. At this stage of my life I get so tickled over my own mistakes, and I quickly turn it into humor.
Be mindful of who and what you allow in your mind, because energy flows where it is welcomed. Be certain your energy has a lock on Negative Nellies, and Naysayers. They’ll leech on you, and still your joy, if you welcome them in.
4. Be a leader, first to Yourself.
Don’t get caught up in the progress of others around you. Stay in your lane. Stay the course of your own dreams and aspirations and allow yourself to feel as if things have already come to pass. There is no worse position than being someone’s shadow, knowing well that you have a birthright to be lit for the world to experience You. Maintain your self-pride and dignity; be hungry for life, but not desperate for support from others. Respect will carry you much farther, any day. And in the end, you’ll be left with real friends who offer genuine support.
The late Ms. Whitney Houston sung of one of my all-time favorite songs, Greatest Love of All. Its lyrics are timeless. Be free by living for you. Learn to love yourself more each day, and soon enough, you’ll have enough love to share with the world.
The late Ms. Houston was the performing artist, but Linda Creed and Michael Masser wrote the lyrics. Whitney, you are loved and appreciated for your gifts you’ve shared with this world.
See lyrics below, or better yet, visit YouTube to download it in Ms. Houston’s voice.
Cheers to Self Love.
-tv-
“Greatest Love Of All”
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone who fulfilled my needs
A lonely place to be
So I learned to depend on me
[Chorus:]
I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone’s shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I’ll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can’t take away my dignity
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all
I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be
[Chorus]
And if, by chance, that special place
That you’ve been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in love
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