Self-Love: Talking to Yourself is a Necessity
What is Self-Love?
So you've heard the term "Self-Love " or maybe even "Self-Care" and you wonder exactly what is it and how is it done? Self-Love is knowing exactly who you are. It is knowing that you were created for a reason and that you have a purpose in this life. When you love yourself, you can be happy, whether you're in a relationship or not; have a good job (what's a "good" job anyway?); or have the things that society deems necessary to be considered successful. Self-Love is having a good life in spite of everything that is going on around you.
You have heard this many times before: Before you can love someone else, you must love yourself. Cliche' , but this is so true! Energy is real. When you love someone, you are giving them access to your energy. When you love yourself, you are keeping loving energy within you to help you feel good and give you life. How will you ever survive if all of your energy is absorbed by someone else? Make sense? You need to take care of yourself first, before you can take care of anyone else. YOU are the most important person in this world. The flight attendant told you "Put your mask on first" and that is what you need to do every day of your life. Before you walk out of the door, put your mask on and cover yourself with love. You got this!
Talk to Yourself:
Even in public you can give yourself a little pep talk. Who cares who's watching?!? Believe me. They can learn a thing or two from you. That's right! Slap yourself on the butt and say "You got this girl!"
Self-Love: Here’s how to do it:
Talk to yourself. Yes, LITERALLY talk out loud & encourage yourself. It helps tremendously when you hear the words aloud. Wake up and say, "I am a beautiful person and I deserve the world. I will not settle for less. "
Never allow yourself to feel less than anyone else. Always take time to give yourself a little pep-talk when you get to your destination each day say, "I am more than enough. I can do all things" and mean it!
Fist pump yourself throughout the day & acknowledge the small accomplishments. Say, "You did that! You're doing your thing!"
Understand that it's ok to say "No." A lot of times we think we are getting alot done. However, when it comes to your health, sometimes saying no can be the difference between you having an anxious & a stressful day or a calm and productive day.
Set intentions for your day that include "Show compassion to myself." Decide the plan for the day and, if it doesn't go exactly as planned, there are always other days. Show compassion to yourself and say "That's ok. I did enough. I can continue to work on this tomorrow". Don't stress yourself out! Life happens.
Self-Care: Here’s how to do it:
Make time for yourself to just be still. Meditate. Meditation is one of the most effective and easiest ways to get centered in the morning. If you want to dive in & make it count, you first have to take that deep breath. Close your eyes and breathe in slowly, listening to the air go in and out of your body. Keep your mind clear & free. If you start to think about the tasks of the day, refocus on your breathing and listen to the soothing sound of the air flowing in and out. Try to meditate at least 5 mins in the morning, and if you desire, increase the time as you come to enjoy this peaceful time. (You can also meditate at nigh to have a restful sleep. )
Eat something fresh & colorful from the Earth. The Earth provides us with everything that we need. You don't have to be a Vegan or a Vegetarian but do eat some fruits and vegetables. These are nature's gifts to keep you happy and healthy. Plant energy can bring you up from a cloudy day and make you feel like the sun.
Take a long walk. Do something in nature. The Earth has so many gifts for you and your body responds and appreciates beautiful stimuli received from the eyes. That is why you can actually "feel" a beautiful sunset or an ocean view. This is nature giving you that little pick-me-up through your senses.
Sleep in. If you don't feel like getting out of bed immediately, don't. You can take a "Self-Care Day." Self-Care Days are so important. (Don't miss work at my account. :-) ) But do take some time for you. Many times we are running back & forth, in traffic, and on the go throughout the week. Then, we keep this up on the weekend. This fast-paced life can have damaging effects on our psyche & physical health. It is important to slow down & just rest.
Be active. Wake up and dance! Put on your favorite song and twirl. You will feel so amazing. Dancing is entirely spiritual. When you move your body, you connect with an energy that is so powerful that it can cure any illness. Move your body & tap into this natural healing. (Check out Kundalini Yoga!).
Pamper yourself. Get a sugar foot scrub, a sweet smelling natural body wash, put some lavender in your bath and just relax. This is something that we all know about, especially as ladies, but men need to relax too. Men can use sugar scrubs & sweet smelling products as well. These are nature's candies to help your skin look good and to help you feel radiant all throughout the day. Be sure to take a Spa Day every day. You deserve it! Check out www.thelisteninghands.com/shop for Self-Care Wellness Essentials that you can use everyday right in the comfort of your home.
Light a candle and make a wish. Wishes do come true!
LaDeidra N. Wooten, BSN, RN, CCM
LaDeidra Wooten is a Registered Nurse who specializes in Holistic Nursing & Holistic Therapy. She attended the University of Memphis and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 2008. During her 12 years as a Nurse, LaDeidra completed extensive training & obtained several certifications in Holistic Health and Nursing. She is a member of the American Holistic Nurses Association. LaDeidra is also an avid reader and enjoys sharing the knowledge she gains to help all inviduals be happy and healthy. She continues to study and stay abreast of clinical information, through nursing scholastic journals , training programs, holistic literature, and personal experience with holistic therapy. After a number of years in Emergency/Trauma Nursing, and meeting so many people during transitions in life, LaDeidra realized Holistic Nursing is her passion . She now works in private practice as a Holistic Nurse and provides Holistic & Complementary Therapy . She is also a Reiki Master and Certified Nurse Case Manager. Through her work as a Nurse Case Manager, she was able to witness that a personalized, and culturally sensitive plan of care creates a healing environment and leads to better outcomes for the patient. When not with patients, LaDeidra has creating unique products to help people relax and heal naturally. She believes Holistic Health is extremely important and this is her life's work. She is very proud to offer holistic & complementary therapy to be integrated into a conventional medicine plan of care to help heal the whole person: mind, body, spirit, and emotions. To learn more about Holistic Therapy & to book an appointment with LaDeidra visit: www.thelisteninghands.com.
Please feel free to email info@thelisteninghands.com with any additional questions. Be Well!
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