What is Self Love?

When people spoke about self love, I always thought it was long walks, shopping trips, days in the spa and doing nice things for myself. I now see that while all that is lovely and it’s a form of doing nice things for yourself, it is different from really loving who you are, warts and all.

Mel Robbins, an American Coach, states that “it’s not what you say to everyone else that determines your life. It’s what you whisper to yourself that has the greatest power”.

So

How do you speak to yourself?

Are you grateful for who and what you are?

Do you respect yourself?

Are you loving to yourself?

If we are unkind to ourselves, we will stay stuck in a negative place. If we speak to ourselves in a negative, discouraging voice, that is unkind and hurtful, then we are not loving ourselves. When we love ourselves, we can do so much good for ourselves and others. Recently, I had a challenge at work and began to speak to myself unkindly. I said things like “you’ll never get this right, everyone knows more than you do, what makes you think you can do this”. I then said to myself “hold on a minute, you have to practice what you preach” So I changed my internal chatter. I stated “You are able for this even though it feels a little scary, put one foot in front of the other and ask for help if you need it”

That kind voice made all the difference. It seems simple but it works. Next time you catch yourself speaking unkindly to yourself turn your words around and be your own best coach!