As selfishness is a dominant trait in man, one is often tempted to believe that putting one’s self first and foremost is a piece of cake. But that isn’t always the case because we are mostly clueless as to how to make this choice manifest. It is called self love. And the paragraphs that follow are set to unravel to you the basic rules to tag on to keep that love alive:
Cultivate the habit of self-approval; make it your pastime. Be kind with yourself and give yourself the freedom to be human (you’re human after all). Know thus, that your flaws are part of the pieces that complete you. Recognize your strengths and use them to your advantage to develop yourself. And while your weaknesses may not seem to be of any merit, embrace them. Accept them so much so that you obliterate any chances of them being used against you. Do not be mortified by the scars that life decorates you with because those are imprinted reminders of how strong you are. With each scar having a tale of its own, it is also a declaration that you made it through a storm; probably a storm that many wouldn’t have outlived.
Really, you do not need people to approve of you. You’re a work in progress and so is everybody else. Your size and color and whatever characteristic there is to you are unique. So, stop letting your self-assessment revolve around other people’s metrics. People compound laws that suit their style and so should you. You’re your own entity. Do not render yourself vulnerable to societal influence. There’s no need to alter your skin with bleaching creams because your skin is, and always will be, just the perfect shade. You don’t need a liposuction; you’re drop dead gorgeous with all that flesh. You’re equally chic without piercings and tattoos alike; else nature would’ve incorporated those in you. And really, do you call it self love when you walk into an Operating Theatre to get a nose job?
Your past is past, so why dine on ashes when there’s a lot of fresh pages yet to be burnt? It’s okay to reflect but not to dwell in your nostalgia or drown in your regrets. Since they are inevitable, it goes to say that you can’t avoid mistakes every so often but you do have an option to avoid mindless repetitions of old mistakes. Be dynamic. Learn to evolve, and not live the same year after year. Imagine what a marvel old paintings would be if they had a chance to be retouched. Now, you’re a different masterpiece with one thousand and one doors open for maintenance, and good thing you own the brushes; do not hesitate to add more hue and eliminate old and rusty ones from your life. Do not just stop painting!
Realize that your happiness exists within your interiors buried deep within your anatomy. That way, only you can have control over your happiness unless perhaps you base it on principles you manufacture for yourself, hence, leaving it (your happiness) at the mercy of others. You don’t need to feel made to feel happy: make that your mantra. Pay attention to the details that matter and ignore the ones that do not, regardless of how loud they squeal for your attention. Master the art of contentment and you wouldn’t be any happier.
Whatever you do, steer clear of negative energy. Turn away from people and situations that seek to persistently drain you. Stay away from people whose only intent is to manipulate you or who constantly want to gaslight you into believing you are what you are not. Keep away from people who simply want to make you feel small. Recoil from those who ceaselessly do nothing but compete with you. Keep your distance. Remove yourself from such vibrations because, Sweetheart, what is your likelihood of maintaining the littlest fragment of your sanity with everything else tearing at it?
Do not wait to be complimented. Look good, feel good and offer benign remarks to yourself. Be you. Be comfortable in your own skin. Settle for positivity and let your gaiety be a brighter accessory than rubies and diamonds. Love yourself first and you’ll find yourself spreading so much love unto others. But if you must expect the sheerest degree of love from others, you have to choose yourself first. Perhaps, if the dressmaker doesn’t like the dress he/she made, he/she wouldn’t expect that others will like it enough to buy it. Believe me, by loving yourself wholly, unrepentantly and insanely you’re giving the world a clear-cut picture of the kind of love you deserve.
Love yourself, it’s the love that matters the most!