As I turn 36, if there is one thing I want to share with everyone it would be how I have made it a habit to constantly love myself in the last two years. Even though I’m not a life coach and I’m also aware that there can not be any one way to love yourself, I can still share my experiences. Also, I say practice “loving myself”, because it doesn’t come naturally to me. If you’ve spent most of your life in self doubt and with low self esteem like I did, then I truly believe that you will have to make a conscious effort to love yourself every single day. Sometimes, I succeed and sometimes I fail miserably.
But what has changed since I started loving myself? The answer is practically everything. The relationships that I really care about improved, I learned to detach myself to a large extent from things and people who don’t matter. I found myself believing in my gut feel and following it. Now I understand, love more and hate less. I trust myself more and fear less. I’m more calm and manage my anger much better. I find it easier to let go of unimportant things. And I finally got the courage to be vulnerable and authentic.
Running helped me connect with my body. It began with punishing it, by pushing myself when I shouldn’t have, and I don’t know when, but slowly it turned into nurturing and nourishing it. It felt good. Really good. The stronger I got, I found myself loving myself a little more.
1) Routine – When you love yourself, you want to take care of yourself. Or it can start the other way, when you start taking care of yourself, you start falling in love with yourself. I have realised one of the most important aspects is to include physical activity in your routine. Walking, running, piliates, zumba, yoga, anything which makes you stronger physically. Chores at home don’t count as exercise, it has to be 45 mins to one hour of sweating it out.
2) Good food – You want to nourish your body and give it all the good things it deserves when you love yourself. My consumption of junk food has seen a decline without the feeling that I’m depriving myself of the “good life”. Just that I enjoy clean food way more.
3) Rituals – Everybody would have different rituals which benefit them. In the last few years, I have rarely missed out on “oil mouthwash” before sleeping. It doesn’t feel like a chore. I do it because I firmly believe it benefits me.
4) Annual check ups and dentists – I know by now I must be sounding like a boring old woman but medical check-ups are important. You need to know if there is any deficiency in your body and a visit to the dentist every six months is a must.
5) A Reading habit – Reading nurtures your mind like nothing else can. Fiction, non-fiction, biography, memoir, short stories to The New Yorker blogs, I try to read anything I can connect with. There’s a huge void which gets filled only when I read. There’s a little shift that happens with every good book I manage to finish reading.
6) Meditation – Meditating regularly helped me clear a lot of baggage. It helped me feel lighter and forgive myself and others easier. I’m no saint but being gentle on yourself and others is important. There is no point in carrying unnecessary weight. Taking out 15-20 minutes to clear your mind isn’t much at all.
7) Getting rid of toxic people – This happened automatically when I realised my self worth. I’m quick to withdraw when I realise the other person is not authentic and doesn’t deserve my time.
And I refuse to wear spandex, let that tummy bulge out a little if it has to 🙂
13 Comments
A very happy birthday Anupriya. Its one Cancerian wishing another. You have inspired me in more than one way and I will always be grateful to you.
your simple, easy to understand, way of writing, makes an instant connection, like- ” here is a person whose thought process is so much like I think”.
Thanks, once again, for penning your ideas and sharing your thoughts.
Loved the article and the perspective. For me writing has been cathar tic and helped me connect with myself better and love myself more. Started running more from a fitness perspective but I am certain it translates to loving myself more!
So much agree with your blog. Yes for sure, happy-ness in your own skin is the best gift to oneself. And let the bulges be … what the heck.
I will try Oil mouthwash,I never heard about this .thanks for sharing.
When you start loving yourself things get better from that very moment. And yes toxic people cause much harm emotionally and physically.
This is the best thing I could have asked for at this point in my life. I’ve lived all my life in self-doubt and depending on others emotionally. This article gave me a lot of hope and scope to work on myself. 😀
Hey thank you so much and I’m so glad you found it helpful. Here’s to loving yourself a bit more everyday 🙂
I was also a person with low self esteem and very shy that I missed many important things.But from past three years reading and yoga and connecting with myself has made me more confident and actually a happy person. And honestly I feel all these years I’ve lived with a frown on my face when My smile is so beautiful. I felt a part of me in this article. Thanks for sharing.
Hey I’m so glad you could relate to it. And I’m so glad you love yourself a lil more now 🙂
That’s definitely a good write up as far as speaking your mind goes. Hope it inspires the hearts it ought to reach..!!!
I used to only follow you only on Instagram, but recently I’ve started reading your blogs too. Even though some of your articles are addressed to older women, I have to tell you, that even as a 22 year old, I relate to your stories so much. Keep writing, your blogs are very motivating 🙂
Xoxo
Saumia, this means a lot to me. Thank you so much 🙂 and sending lots of love.