Self-love is...

I wrote down a journal prompt titled ‘Self- love’ and here are some of the first thoughts that came to mind while writing. I know this term gets thrown around a lot in this age of self-development, ‘glowing up’ and romanticising your life but, self-love is an individual journey and it will look different for everyone.

Self-love is...

A long-lasting journey. I’ve learnt that where there is love, hate can also reside in the same space but its finding that acceptance to be okay with where you are.

I’ve gone so long not being able to give myself love because I didn’t know what that looked like or what that meant to me and I’m still figuring it out as I go along. I’ve realised self-love is taking care of yourself in all aspects- physically, mentally, spiritually- however that looks like.

It’s giving yourself space and grace to feel, to heal, and that can be painful especially if you're not used to looking within yourself, listening to yourself and giving yourself what you need. It brings to light all the things you’ve pushed away for a long time and when they resurface it can be a challenge to know how to deal with it all and to feel through it all. It can get ugly and painful and that’s okay- its not meant to be pretty and perfect.

It’s allowing compassion towards yourself when you don’t feel that love, when you're unable to show yourself that love, when you're being too hard on yourself. It’s allowing yourself to feel, to forgive yourself. Sometimes it's not about forgiving others, it's about forgiving yourself, and this creates space to be accepting of who you are, your flaws, your mistakes.

“I accept myself in all my forms.”

It's okay to fail, to make mistakes, to be HUMAN. And in the same space take responsibility for your trauma, your actions/reactions, your healing.

You’ll need to stop to rest along the way. You’ll need to let go and leave some people behind, create boundaries, speak up for yourself, and fully live in your truth.

It’s asking for what you want and need despite how that makes you feel and how challenging it can be.

Show up for yourself so you can show up in the way that you want to and need to in life and for those around you and closest to you. Take some time out for yourself. You are important. You are valuable and you have a purpose to fulfil. You are needed. Keep pushing.

Lastly, let yourself, just be. Do not deny yourself the space and freedom to do so.

Love.

Yazz