How Are You Loving Yourself Every Day?

“If you ever want to love someone, love yourself unconditionally first.” - Debasish Mridha

The best gift we can give ourselves is to love ourselves as fiercely as possibly because sometimes no one does. Self-love is an important aspect of overall well-being and can have a positive impact on one's mental and physical health. It involves treating oneself with kindness, compassion, and respect, and accepting oneself as one is. When we love ourselves, we are better able to take care of ourselves and make choices that align with our values and goals. It can also help us to build healthier relationships with others.

Here are some best practices and journaling prompts for daily self-love:

• Practice self-care: Take care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being by engaging in activities that make you feel good such as exercise, healthy eating, meditation, or reading a book.

• Speak kindly to yourself: Replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations. Instead of criticizing yourself, speak to yourself with compassion and encouragement.

• Forgive yourself: We all make mistakes, and it's important to learn from them and move on. Journal about a situation where you were hard on yourself and practice forgiveness.

• Set boundaries: Learn to say "no" to things and people that don't align with your values or make you feel good. Journal about a recent situation where you felt uncomfortable and think about how you could have set a boundary.

• Celebrate your accomplishments: Take time to acknowledge and celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may be. Journal about something you did well today, and how it made you feel.

• Learn to accept compliments: When someone gives you a compliment, don't brush it off or downplay it. Instead, accept it graciously and journal about how it made you feel.

• Surround yourself with positivity: Spend time with people who uplift and support you, and engage in activities that make you feel good. Journal about a positive interaction you had with someone today, and what made it special.

• Practice gratitude: Take time to appreciate the good things in your life. Journal about something you are grateful for today, and how it made you feel.

  
  

Reading can be a helpful tool for self-love and personal growth. Here are some recommended reading materials:

• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown: This book encourages readers to embrace their imperfections and cultivate self-compassion.

• You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay: This book offers practical techniques for self-love and healing, including affirmations and visualization exercises.

• Radical Self-Love by Gala Darling: This book provides practical tips for self-love and self-care, including journaling prompts and mindfulness exercises.

• Self-Love Workbook for Black Women: An Unconventional Self-Love Guide Designed for Black Women to Find Inner Strength, Discover One’s Profound Nature, and Improve Life Without Feeling Alone by Dolores Maaike.

• The Self-Healer's Journal: A 90 Day Guided Journal for a Self-Loving, Soulfully Manifested, Grateful-As-Hell Life (Pretty Human Guided Journals) by Rachel Havekost and Hannah Savonne.

• How to Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety by Ellen Hendriksen.

While you are on this self-love path, beginning each day with greater intention is crucial. I personally start my days now training my mind to think differently by focusing on more empowering words, I love listening first thing in the morning to "Find Your Sexy podcast" by Kelcy Valletta, her episodes are short and to the point; I keep on coming back to this episode that aired in August 2022, "The mirror never lies: Understand that what you focus on, will find you" It's less than10 minutes long and always brightens my day. - https://findyoursexy.buzzsprout.com/1300813/11163036-the-mirror-never-lies-understanding-that-what-you-focus-on-you-will-find.

Remember that self-love is a journey and it takes time. Be kind to yourself and don't expect perfection and what works for one person may not work for another. Explore different resources and find what resonates with you.

I am going to leave you with these wise words from Edmond Mbiaka -“The absence of self-love can never be replaced with the presence of people's love for you.”

Yours Truly,

The Queen Of Africa