Take a moment to breathe deeply, maybe close your eyes, and think of all the people and things in your life that you love. Take as long as you’d like with this.
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So, how long did it take you to put your own name on that list? Did your name even make it on the list? I have done this exercise with my students in classes before, and I’ll tell you that 99.9% of the time everyone ends up saying, “Oh my gosh! I didn’t even think to list myself!” That .1% was a sweet child in Kid Yoga who very proudly announced that her name was one of the first things she put on her list!
I’m willing to bet there was a time at some point in all of our lives where we were like that child. We loved ourselves… before people in our life came along and told us the lie that we were not worthy of love. Maybe it was a parent, a friend, a partner, a stranger… whomever it was told us this lie with their words or their actions, and the message came across loud and painfully clear. But, even so, we made the agreement to accept it as truth, and we stopped loving ourselves in the process.
Perhaps the message you received was that it was wrong or conceited to love yourself. But what’s wrong with being extremely proud of yourself, loving every bit of your journey and fight to build the beautiful person you are today?! There’s nothing wrong with that, I tell you! Love yourself completely! Show the world how to love you. Show them how to love themselves.
It’s time to change our thoughts and especially the way we talk to ourselves! Accept yourself for who you are, embrace your flaws while still striving to be the best version of yourself. Rather than worrying that your quirks may be annoying to others, embrace those differences, because that’s what makes you unique! That’s exactly the thing to love about yourself!
Let’s revert back to the days of childhood when we would dress ourselves in the tackiest, mixed matched outfit, hair uncombed, look in the mirror and think, “Man, I look SO GOOD!” That confidence and self-love is still inside us somewhere! We just have to find it.
Now, take some deep breaths again, maybe close your eyes, place your hands on your heart and begin to make a list of all the amazing things you love about yourself: your mind, your spirit, your body. Get as specific as you can! Love yourself! You are worthy and deserving!!
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