How do you love yourself?

[newswoman13]

Hi everyone. I always look forward to writing out of curiosity and reading your responses. Let me explain my question today...

I posted something similar a while back, but I want to know more, get more perspectives. So, how do you take care of yourself? How do you nurture yourself?

For example, I find that when I don't slow down and pay attention, I rush, I stuff, I crash, and I spiral. If any of you have had issues with emotional eating, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Or, really any addiction/compulsion can send you into a tailspin where you have to remind yourself to slow down.

So, I'm on the right track recognizing when I need to slow down, but I know I need to practice more self-care for myself. Like, instead of saving the good stuff for company, I need to pretend like I'm my own company in my own space...I hope that makes sense to some of you. I think after years of racing and pushing against what was really not me (silly expectations), I am now getting to the point of self acceptance...I know it's a process, and I learn everyday to treat myself well, but it's really about slowing down and paying attention -- LISTENING -- for me.

For example, when I do slow down, I remember that I need my prayer time, I need to take time to breathe, I relax myself enough to write, I take time to prepare my meals, and I pay attention to how my fun step classes are my antidepressant! -- To some people slowing down and taking care might never have been a big deal,it might have come naturally; but I think it's a huge issue for so many women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60, 70s, etc.

So, to love yourself, how do you do it? Your experiences?

Thank you.

 

[endorphin_junkie]

I learned to love myself doing what you said, slowing myself down, yoga was my initial conduit to self love/accetance. For me self love doesn't mean that I think I'm all that and a bag of chips, quite the opposite, I love me inspite of me, not because of me. I now know me for me, my authentic self, not who I wish I was or who I want to be but, me, no more no less. I want to come as closely as I can in this lifetime to realising my fullest potential, no one else's. I have learned to love my physical self, I am strong and healthy, I used to want to be as lean as possible but the price of self denial and discipline was better spent in other aspects of my life. I have learned to love my spiritual self, I was raised to be religious but realised in my mid 30's that it doesn't speak to my soul, too much dogma and human stuff between me and our Creator, I lost the guilt of that and have grown more spiritually and become more compassionate in the last decade than my first 3+ decades. I learned to love my emotional self by heeding the simple phrase that 'just because you think it doesn't mean you have to feel it'. My emotions don't define me but are a lithmus test, emotional reactions have caused me much pain in the past so I buffer them with mindfullness and compassion (most of the time;-)). I have learned to love myself enough to let those who love me, love me as they are moved to do and my heart is full.

Take Care
Laurie

 

[newswoman13]

Wow, Laurie, thank you. Beautiful. You sound so peaceful. I think you are where many people are striving to be. I like to look at it like we are perfectly imperfect.

Thanks for replying and inspiring!!

 

[Netta]

I've taken to indulging in monthly massages, adding more yoga to my workouts, relaxing with DH on trips out to the woods. No guilt for me. In fact, on Mother's Day I did a group bike ride in the morning, then spent the afternoon with the kids. Makes me a happier person to live with.

Jeanette

 

[jillybean]

My therapist suggested to me that I try to do some form of self-soothe every day. For me, I nurture myself by exercising - I'm not bothered by anyone during my workouts - and it's a great time for relieving stress.

Also, I adore music - PRINCE being my all-time #1 favorite. To sit and listen to one of my 70+ Prince CDs is wonderfully theraputic. I also like messing around with iTunes and making new playlists.

When I was a little kid, I loved doing things like making lists, being by myself, and listening to music. Now that I'm grown, I try to still do each of those things whenever I get the chance (which isn't often). That way, I still feel like a kid. Also, I think it helps me realize that the things I think are problems in my life, aren't very problematic at all.

Do whatever makes you feel joy in your heart.