Self Love, Self Care is not just a hastag. #selflove
Self love is not selfish, in fact, it’s crucial and imperative that you find your unique practices that fill your cup. Life depletes our cups, inevitably. It is our own job to fill it back up.
What good are we to serve our families, communities, the world, if we are just running our body temples until the wheels fall off? None!
Imagine when the stewardess on the plane is going over emergency protocols and tells YOU to put on your oxygen mask and life vest first, before you even help your child! This is self love!
Now, what fills your cup? My self love practices are unique to me and maybe we share some of the same. Some of mine are hikes in nature (especially ones that include a waterfalls!), making daily juice, hot baths with Epsom salt and essential oils, lots of candles, creating new recipes, filling my body with organic- plant based fuel, thrift store shopping, just cruise and chill out- sipping on tea and watching a good movie, natural spa day with my sisters, sunsets, ocean, dancing, making music … all these things are healthy and bring joy to me.
Take a few minutes to write down what brings you joy. Draw, doodle until you are “stream of conscious” writing, it will be flowing.
Self love practices are always healthy, not harmful. So, for example, a night out partying with your homies does not align with self love. A night out is amazing and fun and full of joy, and often needed (I love to dance) however, if it depletes you because of alcohol or any harmful substances, and you’re suffering from it the next day, IT”S NOT SELF LOVE! Alcohol is not self love.
Now, filling your cup can begin to get easy once you know what it is that does it. However, there is another crucial step that is sometimes the hardest. It is forgiving those that hurt you and sometimes that includes yourself. Holding on to pain of the past and grudges for anyone (including yourself), can bring sickness, and can be passed on to children, sabotage relationships meant for good with friends, lovers, and even co-workers. Forgive! This releases energetic ties to the transgressor and can allow for healing and for self love to flourish, and relationships to prosper. It was easier for me to forgive my transgressors than it was myself, and when I did, everything began to change. Healthier, loving relationships and friendships, were the rewards of forgiveness.
Because, you see, we cannot truly love another, in a healthy relationship, when we are not loving ourselves. (say that again)
I pray that you will read this and a seed will be planted in your heart, that allows you to forgive and grow in love of self- nurturing and care.
I love you Family, Jah Loves you the Most!
