Valentine’s Day is on its way. It’s a time when people show feelings of love, affection and friendship towards others…but what about themselves? The concept of self-love is uncomfortable for many people because they shudder to think about the vain, egotistical people they’ve known. But true self-love knows nothing of vanity or egotism—in fact, quite the opposite. True self-love is subtle and humble, never obtrusive.
If your fitness journey is fueled by negative self-talk, it will work against you by becoming a spirit-crushing punishment. Let feeling good about yourself, and believing that you are worth the effort, be your motivation to continuing your journey to living a healthier lifestyle.
If you’re like most people and struggle with maintaining a strong sense of self-love, here’s your homework.
Homework: “I like me” list
Due date: February 14, 2020
Take out a blank piece of paper and at the very top write “I like (your name), I really do… ” (We know it’s not easy, but just breathe, it will be worth it.)
In the third person, write out what you truly like about yourself. No apologies or qualifications. No fears of being immodest. No buts. (Avoid things like: “Shelly’s a good cook, but she still has a lot to learn.”) Be honest: what do you really like about yourself, and what do you think other people like about you, too?
A few ideas of things you can include:
Personality traits: “Mary’s a great friend to others, she know when and how to reach out and lift someone’s spirits.”
Physical traits: “Tiffany has a great smile with cute dimples.”
Accomplishments: “Melissa earned that promotion through hard work and resilience.” or “Jenny organized the pantry and the garage all in one day.”
Fill the whole page if you can, and keep going no matter how hard it gets. Move right past any feelings of egotism, you’re allowed to compliment yourself just as you would compliment any other loved one in your life. You don’t have to share this with anyone, but you can if you want.
Simply by focusing on the positives about yourself, you’re going to reprogram your mind. Believe in yourself. Love yourself. Be whole.
