You have heard the importance of self love, and yet how many of you really truly practice it on a daily basis?  I know you may understand it as a theory, but you may not use it as a practice.  I see this daily in my friendships, clients, family and the people around me.  We are so programmed to not love ourselves, and want to change things about ourselves daily.  Take a look at the media and celebrity icons.  They try so hard to look and be perfect.  These people are the world’s role models.  If they don’t like something, they  change it with plastic surgery, face-lifts and tummy tucks.

I went to a family gather a week ago, and I hear from the women was talk about what they wanted to change on their bodies or how unhappy they were with certain parts.  That made me feel really sad.  We were never taught to love ourselves or our bodies as a whole from our parents, society, our teachers in school or from our friends.  I never learned that from my parents because they didn’t love themselves either.

This affected me strongly in my first love relationship.  I remember I would ask my boyfriend everyday if he loved me.  I was so self conscious and needed that validation because of my past.  “Do you love me? Do you think I am beautiful? Am I attractive?” He grew tired of the neediness.  One day he let me know that I would be more attractive if I was more confident with myself.  When we broke up that was my true test to learn how to love myself and be my own best friend.

This was the hardest thing that I had ever experienced.  I remember crying for days on end coming home to an empty place and realizing that all I had was myself.  I remember trying to make plans with friends, and they were always busy.  I had to sit with that fear of mine to be alone and be challenged with this.  Each day I would take steps in this new world of self love.  I would spend time alone, do things that were nourishing and received support from two healers and my fairy god-mother Sapphire Moon.  The nourishment for myself eventually took root in my body because one day I woke up and felt like I can take on the world!  I was starting to be happy again.

Deepening self love for myself has created the foundation of all my relationships.  Even to this day, I still practice daily ways of loving myself like buying my favorite chocolate and really savoring it or going on walks alone to catch the sunset.  Because I feel grounded in this self love, my relationships have shifted.  I don’t need love outside of myself anymore.  My relationships are healthy and are based on freedom, healthy support and love.  More people are drawn to me now because I don’t need this love from anyone.

I love myself, who I am and what I am creating in this world.  I wish for you the same.

Hope this serves you well and have a beautiful day!