{"id":775,"date":"2019-02-16T15:20:48","date_gmt":"2019-02-16T20:20:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wholenessshift.com\/stage\/?p=775"},"modified":"2019-09-03T18:40:18","modified_gmt":"2019-09-03T22:40:18","slug":"self-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wholenessshift.com\/stage\/self-love\/","title":{"rendered":"25 Strategies for Self-Love and Self-Care"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Holy cow!\u00a0 What a week!\u00a0 I won’t bore you with the details, but it has been a week fraught with\u00a0 massive technical difficulties, which has made the creation and editing of the accompanying video for this post nearly impossible (at least as of this moment).\u00a0 But, I am determined! And it will posted as soon as I am able to get it figured out.\u00a0 Thanks for\u00a0 your patience as I figure this all out!\u00a0 In the meantime, please dive into this post!\u00a0 What are you doing to take care of yourself?\u00a0 Because you’re amazing and you need to be loving on yourself! <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Self-love.\u00a0 That\u2019s another one of those trendy buzz-words that has been floating around for the past handful of years.\u00a0 That and self-care.\u00a0 They can be used on their own or they can be used in a way that is interchangeable, but either way you cut it, they are important.<\/p>

I got a handful of requests for this topic, so I know it\u2019s something that is on your minds! \u00a0I figured what better time to address self-love than Valentine\u2019s Day? \u00a0So, let\u2019s get to it!\u00a0 Let\u2019s talk about the why\u2019s and the how\u2019s of self-love and self-care.<\/p>

Having the intention to do something caring for yourself carries a force with it that will pay off in spades.\u00a0 You are telling the universe that your intention is to love and care for yourself, so the universe rises to meet you there and sends you more opportunities to keep on doing it!<\/p>

Why is this so important?\u00a0 Well, one of the main reasons is that your relationship with yourself is literally the only relationship that you will have every single day of your life. It is the single most important and longest lasting relationship of this lifetime and it deserves to be respected and nurtured. \u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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That right there should be enough, shouldn\u2019t it?\u00a0 Seriously.\u00a0 Shouldn\u2019t knowing that you have to live in this same skin\u2026in this life you have created\u2026until your last dying breath\u2026be enough to make you want to make this the most amazing experience ever?\u00a0 Why would you not<\/em> want to take care of said life and fill it full of everything good, and wonderful, and awesome?\u00a0 Just sayin\u2019.<\/p>

Wherever you go, there you are.\u00a0 You are your one-true-thing.\u00a0 And just as in any relationship, what you tend to will thrive.\u00a0 So why not make it a priority to see how much you can thrive instead of merely surviving?\u00a0 What would it look like if you were so well loved and taken care of that you were absolutely effervescent with joy on a daily basis?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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I had little pockets of this over the years, but it was hard to stay in that zone.\u00a0 Being a single mom, I was usually in combat mentality.\u00a0 I had learned how to survive and be effective under extremely stressful and trying circumstances.\u00a0<\/p>

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The goals were simple\u2026keep myself and my four children alive, safe, fed, and housed.\u00a0 Sounds simple, but it was anything but.\u00a0 If you\u2019re lucky enough to have a supportive partner, you know how hard parenting and adulting is in the best of circumstances!\u00a0 I had to do it on my own\u2026with four children\u2026we had traumas we were all recovering from and nice helpings of PTSD to raise the stakes\u2026and I had a chronic illness that made it difficult to live life.<\/p>

It was my life, I lived through it.\u00a0 And yet reading that list, I think, \u201cWow, are you kidding me?\u00a0 She had it rough!\u201d\u00a0 But back then in the moment, do you think I showed myself that same sympathy?\u00a0 Of course not.\u00a0 We are our own worst enemies!\u00a0 No, I beat myself up.\u00a0 I shame-spiraled when one of my kids was disappointed that I had to miss parent day at school or a basketball game.\u00a0 And I may have been there physically, but I wasn\u2019t present all the time even when I was present.\u00a0<\/p>

The bottom line is this\u2026I was exhausted, depleted, sick, depressed, lonely, scared, and beating myself up because I was all those things.\u00a0 Now I look back and my heart aches for the woman I was then.\u00a0 I wonder how I ever thought it was supposed to be any different when I was being so hard on myself and I was doing absolutely nothing <\/em>to love or take care of myself.\u00a0 Back then I thought that putting self-first was self-ish.\u00a0<\/p>

Yes, of course I needed to take care of my children, but I had my priorities all wrong.\u00a0 What I needed to do was love and nurture all five of us.\u00a0 Fill all our cups, starting with mine.<\/p>

The bottom line is this, and this is especially for you parents. If there is only one take away I can pass on from that experience it is this\u2026do what you need to do to take care of yourself, because your children need you to be OK.\u00a0 I had no idea how important self-care was and self-love was until the past handful of years and it has changed everything about my life.<\/p>

\u00a0 I\u2019m not one who believes in beating yourself up about the past.\u00a0 \u00a0I think you need to forgive yourself and move on. \u00a0But if there\u2019s one thing that keeps me up at night it\u2019s this…if I had known or had the foresight to invest in self-care on a regular basis, and to show myself love and grace, instead of getting caught up in my head with all of the drama that surrounded me in my life circumstances, that my life and the memories my children have of me from that time would look totally different. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

My outsides and the memories that we all have would have matched the ooey gooey lovey feelings that parents have for their children.\u00a0 There would have been more laughter and eyes that were lit up instead of a tired mom who was pulling out all the stops just to get some hot dogs warmed up and onto a paper plate (and no shame there\u2026still one of my favorite meals! \u00a0Do what you\u2019ve gotta do parents!).<\/p>

Have I sold you yet?\u00a0 Have you decided that you are worth investing in?\u00a0 That intentionally acting with self-love and care are as vital as food and breathing when it comes to your well-being?\u00a0 Awesome, lets dive in!<\/p>

How do you do this self-care thing, anyways?\u00a0 I mean, you brush your teeth and scarf down food every day, isn\u2019t that self-care?\u00a0 Well, yes.\u00a0 Technically.\u00a0 But let\u2019s see if you can expand your horizons just a little bit.<\/p>

It starts with an attitude of grace and mercy toward yourself. When you\u2019re in a relationship with anyone else, whether it\u2019s a romantic partner, family member, a coworker, or a friend, you show that person grace when they\u2019re having a tough time. You know that they\u2019re a human being made up of all kinds of flaws and imperfections.\u00a0<\/p>

Heck, they may even be irritating at times. \u00a0But, they\u2019re also made up of all this beautiful, wonderful stuff! \u00a0And despite their flaws, you show them grace and you accept them how they are. That\u2019s <\/em>where the magic lies and that\u2019s what we must do for ourselves.<\/p>

When practicing self-love, this is one area where it\u2019s OK to do what feels good in the moment. Instant gratification is something that tends to get a negative connotation, but in this circumstance?\u00a0 Go for it.\u00a0<\/p>

Does that mean you want to spend two weekends in a row painting watercolor, even though you\u2019ve never painted before? Does that mean that you feel baking Christmas cookies, even though it\u2019s the middle of July? Do you want to learn to needlepoint sassy pictures? Yes?\u00a0 Awesome!\u00a0 Now go do that! Do what feels good and lights up your soul (provided it doesn\u2019t cause harm to anyone else. You know some of you need to be told that.\u00a0 Just sayin\u2019). \u00a0Do what brings you joy. Do you have a hobby? Then get one! Take an interest in taking an interest.<\/p>

Listen to your body. \u00a0What does your body need? More water? More compassion? Exercise? Healthier food? More downtime?\u00a0 This has been my issue lately.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been pushing myself too hard and because I\u2019m in tune with myself and my body now, I saw the signs and I pulled back.\u00a0 I was intentional about scheduling some down time and building in breaks.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Here are twenty-five ways to show yourself some love and care.\u00a0 But as you can imagine, the list is endless.\u00a0 The key is to do whatever lights up your soul and makes you smile.<\/p>

  1. Meditate.<\/li>
  2. Get a massage.<\/li>
  3. Take five minutes to pluck your eyebrows. You\u2019ll feel better.<\/li>
  4. Laugh until you\u2019re ready to pee your pants.<\/li>
  5. Watch animal videos on fb for a whole hour if you want.<\/li>
  6. Binge a show.<\/li>
  7. Tend to your environment. Tidy up, make your bed, light a candle, open a window. You will feel so much<\/em> better after you do!<\/li>
  8. Self-soothe. Who says you have to get dressed on the weekend? Wear your big, fluffy robe around the house or wear those comfy clothes.<\/li>
  9. Have a Warm drink. Make a cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.<\/li>
  10. Touch base with your friends and loved ones. Make a heart connection.<\/li>
  11. Positive self-talk. \u00a0When you pass a mirror, remind yourself that you are gorgeous and that your ass is looking particularly fine.<\/li>
  12. Journaling and brain dumping. Better out than in!<\/li>
  13. Some people think they are just woowoo, but they truly do work really work you guys. \u00a0Find one you want to use and begin repeating it to yourself often.\u00a0 It can be something simple like, \u201cI feel peaceful\u201d or \u201cI love the way everything always works out in my favor.\u201d\u00a0<\/li>
  14. Practice gratitude. Write down three things every night that you are grateful for.<\/li>
  15. Because you are amazing, write down three ways that you totally nailed it that day.<\/li>
  16. Buy yourself a vase of flowers. Or two.<\/li>
  17. Sit outside and read.<\/li>
  18. Take a bath<\/li>
  19. Get some fresh air. This can be as simple as standing outside and taking three or four slow, deep breaths in and out.<\/li>
  20. Do your makeup and take an amazing selfie.<\/li>
  21. Ask your closest friends to list a few things that they love about you. Then don\u2019t argue or dismiss. Accept with gratitude and let them sink into your heart.<\/li>
  22. Do u feel most beautiful when you have some color? Then get a spray tan or put some self-tanner on. Actually, just make self-tanner part of your morning routine from now on since it makes you look so good!<\/li>
  23. Drink water. No, more.\u00a0 You know you haven\u2019t had enough.\u00a0 Don\u2019t argue, just do it.<\/li>
  24. Make a green smoothie full of yummy fruits and hydration.<\/li>
  25. Finally make that recipe you took a picture of from that magazine at the doctor\u2019s office. It looks amazing and you\u2019ll be glad you did.<\/li><\/ol>

    My go-to self-care looks like this\u2026<\/p>