“There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence.”-Steve Maraboli
Today you will choose self-love. You will focus on all of the positive attributes you have rather than what you deem negative. This includes all speech, thoughts, reactions to your reflection, and any compliments another person gifts you. How do you respond when someone compliments you? Do you say, “Thank you,” and leave it at that? Or do you make up an excuse as to how it’s not true? Roll your eyes? Deny the compliment?
Today you are only allowed to thank the nice person for saying the nice thing to you. If this makes you uncomfortable, that’s okay. It may be challenging at first to accept and incorporate this new little habit. Again, you are planting the seed of self love. Self-acceptance is difficult for many men and women. Changing this habit takes practice.
WARNING: Beware of Self-Sabotage’s mini-me who likes to come in a criticize you for “not doing it right.” If you are making the effort but catch yourself slipping and not accepting a compliment, it’s okay. Mini-me likes to rear her ugly head to prevent you from breaking the cycle of self-disapproval. This is where we STOP the abuse.
Just smile and keep going. Trust the process. Look yourself in the mirror and pretend that you are the most beautiful woman or man you have ever seen. You don’t have to believe it, but this will work better if you can believe it. You love your hair, your face, your eyes, your weight, your skin, your height, your boobs, your butt, your tummy, and your foot size. Now, once you have this feeling, LOCK IT IN.
Carry it with you through your entire day. If you happen to see someone in person, on a zoom call, or on social media and they compliment you, it will be much easier to accept once you are in this state of mind. If you doubt yourself, remember you are “playing pretend.” Eventually, once you pretend long enough, you will begin to embody these attitudes and actions. You are planting the self-love seed for your life.
TODAY’S PRACTICE: Letter to Self
This is a goodie! In your letter you will thank your body for all that it does for you and apologize for any unkindnesses you’ve said, or thought over the years. You will only be kind to your body starting today. You will only shower it with appreciation, love and kindness.
Example
Dear [insert your name here],
You are enough. I see you. All of your beauty, all of your “imperfections.” I tendto call them “flaws.” I’m sorry for picking on you. I’m sorry for focusing on “what’s wrong” with you, instead of thanking you for taking care of me. Thank you for giving me this body to live Life, to experience joy, pain, pleasure, sadness, excitement, and love.
I’m sorry for the mean things I have said to you. I’m sorry for degrading you, and treating you as if you’re not enough because you don’t look like the model on the magazine covers or in my mind.
You are amazing! You are worth more than words can express. I’m sorry for smoking, eating too much sugar, processed junk-food, not giving you enough water, and then judging you for gaining a few pounds. I’m sorry for thinking that you’re not enough, not smart enough, not pretty enough, not driven enough, not good enough. I’m sorry that I am so hard on you.
Thank you for caring for me and being there for me. You accept me without judgment. You love me as I am, and continue to support me. You nourish me, give me life. You let me run, jump, dance, drive, work, eat, sleep. All of this I have taken for granted in the past. No more. I want you to know how much I love you. You are important to me. I’m sorry I haven’t shown you how much I care. I expect so much of you, criticize you for aging when wrinkles appear, instead of celebrating that you’ve allowed me to live as many years that I have. You are a miracle. You are love. Thank you for showing me how to be better. Thank you for my life. I appreciate you.
With gratitude,
[Sign your name]
Namaste