Ways in Which We Can Honor Ourselves and Celebrate Self-Love
Think of how much you care about and believe in your best friends. You think they are wonderful. You love and cherish them, so that is all the proof you need to believe that they are the amazing people you know them to be.
When it comes to self-reflecting thoughts, you may not be as kind or loving to yourself as you are to your friends. What if you could honor and celebrate the love you have for yourself?
Try this experiment: write down all the wonderful things about the two people you care for the most. Now read the list you made as though you are describing yourself. What is your reaction to hearing such positive things about yourself? How comfortable are you with honoring yourself with such kindness and self-love?
Each and every person is created in love by love, and is precious and cherished – yes, that means you. We are taught to believe that we are greatly loved by God. If you accept that there is truth in that belief, then there is no denying that you are greatly loved.
You might shy away from self-love, fearing it is too self-centered or narcissistic. Yet, in reality, self-love is humbling. How unpretentious is it to accept that you are so loved that the Divine knows the number of hairs on your head? That you were given the journey of being incarnated to experience this adventure we call human life? That you have a forever partner helping, comforting, loving, teaching, and guiding as you risk this exciting activity called life?
Step into the wondrous world of self-love by accepting you are the child, the creation, of the Divine. This is an adventure that you can embrace with humility and curiosity. Once you have stepped into even a tiny bit of acceptance of this fact, you can find yourself appreciating all others who are also on this journey along with you. Just imagine how much love that will add to your experience every moment of each day.
In Judeo-Christian religions, the foundation of belief guides us to love God, our neighbors, and ourselves. We sometimes forget about ourselves.
Begin each day reminding yourself of all the good there is about you. Find at least three things to acknowledge that are wonderful about yourself. Take your hands and hold them over your heart until you feel the warmth coming from you, into you. Feel the love you have for your favorite person and turn that love inward toward yourself. Consider a kindness you can do yourself today. Place an ink dot on the palm of your hand as a reminder that you are so loved, and as you see that mark on your hand throughout the day, feel the presence of the love you have for yourself.
We can honor ourselves by speaking kindly in our self-talk, appreciating the little things that we do when we become a better person, and celebrating this adventure of a lifetime right here and now in our everyday lives. Let go of toxic and negative people, places, and things in your life to give more space for the good things about you to grow stronger, expand your love within, and surround yourself and others with joy.
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Author Mary G. Jackson, MEd, MS, LCPC, has over 25 years' experience in spiritual exploration and aims to help others discover spirituality all around us in our everyday lives. In Mary's spiritual awakening book and writings, she connects anecdotal experiences with ideas of a greater meaning, channeling her personal learnings as means to share divine presence. Learn more about Mary G. Jackson: https://www.presenceeveryday.com