I'm fully aware that the title of this blog post seems incredibly narcissistic. Maybe if you have just stumbled across this blog post, you think I'm really big-headed or full of myself. I'll tell you one thing. I am definitely not. Self-love is so important, yet it's seen as being self-indulgent or self-obsessed. No wonder, many have never practised self-love at all.
Self-love is the practice of being kind to yourself. Self-love is being able to recognise that you are doing the best you can, given your situation. Self-love involves not beating yourself up for trying your hardest. You wouldn't constantly criticise your friends so why do we do it to ourselves? We are constantly too fat, too thin, too stupid, too intelligent, just not good enough.
But to who's standards? Who says that big isn't beautiful? Who says being intelligent isn't attractive? Society. But not everyone in society agrees. The person who's being paid to write that trashy magazine article about worse dressed celebrities or how to lose five pounds overnight, could be sat that in a tracksuit, scoffing themselves with a McDonalds. You just don't know.
So before you start criticising yourself, next time think about who you are trying to impress. I know your self-criticism will be pointless. If you don't know where to start, with self-love write a list of 30 things you love about yourself. If you struggle with 30, start with a smaller number and work your way up.
Here's my list:
1) My big brown eyes
2) My thick long eyelashes
3) My full lips
4) My long thick hair
5) My ridiculous laugh
6) The Rate at which my fingernails grow
7) My intelligence
8) My dedication to my work and revision for college
9) My loving and kind nature
10) How supportive I am of other people
11) I am happy to express my myself with my clothes and hair colour
12) My sense of humour which I get from my dad
13) My witty one liners
14) My determination to not let my mental health problems define me
15) How passionate I am about supporting other people with mental health problems
15) My imagination
16) My creativity
17) I'm happy to give up my time for volunteering
18) My smile
19) My music taste
20) My great taste in horror films
21) My organisation skills
22) How much of a perfectionist I am
23) My time keeping skills
24) My attitude to everything I do. Everything I do must be my best effort.
25) My determination to keep going no matter what life throws at me.
27) My willingness to get better
28) My unselfish nature
29) I'm a good listener
30) I will always do the best I can, and that's all I can do.
I hope I have encouraged some of you to practice self-love more often. Even if it's just starting with a small list of things you love about yourself. I promise it's not narcissistic. Self-love has some real noticeable benefits.
I would love to know your opinions on self-love in the comments below and if you have made a list like this or if you encouraged to now after reading this post.
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I absolutely love this entry, you can add to your list the passion and gift for words, I love reading you !
ReplyDeleteI have never made such a long list myself, only small ones during challenges. I'll have to give it a thought and prepare a longer list, maybe I'll make it to 30... who knows ?
Thank you for having made it, it does help to work on my self-confidence and to define those things I like about myself, like you did here and which i loved all - I learned a few things about you that I didn't know since following you months ago and I really love getting to know my friends better.
Hugs & well done!
Yours, lulublue
aw thank you so much! :)
DeleteLove this post. Definitely thinking of doing my own list now!xx
ReplyDeleteLucy x | lucy-cole.co.uk
aw let me know how it goes
DeleteSelf love is definitely very important! X
ReplyDeleteKate// itskaterose.com
it is indeed
DeleteI love this post so much. I have been trying to write a post about 5 things I love about myself and can't think of more than 2, which is ridiculous and so upsetting. Self love IS so important. Having confidence within yourself is a great thing, and will only help you go further in life, yet people do belittle others for believing in themselves, and it's so wrong.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try extra hard to think of 3 more things so I can finally publish that post and encourage others to write their own lists too. We need to make self love a normal and celebrated thing. By the way, judging by this list, you sound like such a cool person to be around! ☺️
http://www.thesmalladventurer.blogspot.com.au/
aw thank you so much! I hope you find those three extra things xx
DeleteLove this post! Self-love is so crucial!
ReplyDeleteabi | http://fruitofdelight.blogspot.co.uk/
aw thank you so much :)
DeleteBeautiful post! It really made me smile to hear these things! You're so right, it's more important than ever now to really practice self-love because society now is so degrading and it's really becoming a problem for mental health! I love your blog and that you're so passionate about both overcoming mental health and spreading it's awareness - it's really helped me at times!
ReplyDeleteA couple of bits I'd put on my list would be; my hair (it's always so silky smooth, naturally straight and won't get noticeably greasy for about a week!), my kindness and empathy, I'm a good listener, my talent for lip-syncing, and - though some may disagree - I think I'm pretty damn hilarious sometimes!!
JosieVictoriaa // Fashion, Travel & Lifestyle
aww that's amazing you can think of so many things you love about yourself. Thank you so much x
DeleteI loved reading this Nicole <3 you always write such inspiring posts! I definitely need to try doing something like this more often, you're right when you said we would never criticise our friends so why do we do it to ourselves! I'm definitely going to be writing my own list xxx
ReplyDeletehttp://www.samanthafrances.co.uk
I adore this post lovely! :) I think practising self-love is very, very important and has incredible benefits! :)Xx
ReplyDeleteSuch an inspiring and uplifting post Nicole - I definitely don't give myself enough credit, and really should at times!
ReplyDeleteLucy | Forever September
Self love is a must! Lovely list. xx
ReplyDeleteMarilyn | www.marilynnassar.wordpresss.com
An amazing, positive post. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSteph xx
www.stephsworld.com