How are you today? No really, how are you? How are you coping with Lockdown life? Is your life full of self-love?
Despite all that is happening in the world right now, in life, we keep on going, we keep on giving, we keep on sharing, and consequently, we keep on doing, because we want to.
So how much time do we actually focus on self-love? How much time do we spend on ourselves, making sure our "reservoirs" are full? I don't mean sweating it out in a fast-paced online speed cycling class, competing virtually with a room full of strangers. I mean time alone, nurturing, comforting, healing, and giving your mind time to explore meaning, not just what's happened over the last week in your life.
In pre-COVID days we would nurture our relationships with 'date night' or we would meet chums for coffee or a drink. At home, we sit and cuddle our children and read them stories and we comfort them when they cry. As a result how much time do you spend allowing YOU to emerge, rather than being crushed by all that stuff in life that is crowding YOU out?
The concept of self-love and care is not new. The Hindu sage Patanjali wrote the Yamas, five moral disciplines and restraints to live our life by. Seems like these were sacred values that related to work, play, social interaction, and time on the yoga mat. The first of the Yamas was Ahimsa; be gentle to yourself and all creation.
Daily Positive Affirmations To Rekindle your Self Love
Here are 3 easy steps to re-kindle your self-love and to work on the relationship with you -
❤Daily affirmations - Do you ever roll out of bed and take a look at yourself with disbelief and say "Who on earth is this looking back at me?!!!" We repeat so many negative observations about ourselves to ourselves that we begin to believe them. Instead, choose a positive affirmation, write it on a post-it note, and put it on the mirror that you will first look at, or you can
Say out loud - "I appreciate who I am."
Repeat in your mind - "I am at peace with myself."
Tell yourself over and over - "I deserve to be happy."
Think and therefore believe - "I am beautiful."
Embrace Your New Happy Feelings And Enjoy Being Content With Yourself.
❤Enjoy your own company with 5 minutes of meditation because meditation is quiet time with yourself and your thoughts. It's a time of self-love and empowerment, where you sit and care for yourself, reducing tension and negative dialogue. Furthermore, your mind can cover an awful lot of things in 5 minutes both positive and negative. So we have to remember what Patanjali says in the Yoga Sutras, "When disturbed by disturbing thoughts think of the opposite." Meditation is a magical way of slowing down your busy mind and focusing. After all, a good body scan meditation is a good place to start.
Treat Yourself - Do Something You Love And Savour It
❤Whether it be buying yourself a bunch of flowers online or having a long, relaxing bath. Getting out and having a morning walk or curling up with a beautiful book. Whatever it is, do it and do it fully without distraction or guilt (especially without guilt!!). I love all of these things and endeavour to do at least one a day. After all, these activities are the very essence of self-love.
Life is tough at the moment but you can make it easier by nourishing yourself and ultimately loving who you are. Make sure you include all of your limitations AND your greatness. So why not start improving your self-love by joining me in my online live zoom classes or you can join me in any one of my online video yoga and pilates classes at Tabitha Yoga Online
