In all of that negative self dialogue, I know that I found an answer. Many wonderful successful people have demonstrated it in their lives, and some have spent a big portion of their lives trying to cultivate it in others. I am speaking of mental health care professionals, motivational speakers, life coaches, spiritual leaders, and religious leaders. I was raised in the church, so I know that you are precious and loved by God, but I never really understood the connection to that and how my life had turned out. I was unhappy, and I really didn't love myself, and who I had turned out to be. I didn't love others or the place that I worked, and I compared and felt jealous almost all the time. My only retreat was to escape in fantasy worlds where I could live out my dreams in a character of someone else's choosing, but agreed with me enough that I could get into it. And this answer wasn't something that I wanted to admit at first, because it was scary to think how wrong I had been leading my life up to this point, but it was right there, written across my soul and every truly worthwhile experience that I had ever had. The answer was to love. Very simple, yes?
Well it really seems easier said than done. It is like a liberation of the soul and a torture of the ego. When I say ego, I mean everything in my mind which craves to be something that I am not. Everything that wants something that causes fear, worry, anxiety, stress is based in the ego. I am going to flunk this test, I studied, but I am am awful tester. I am such and awful person, I am the only one that forgot to bring something to the party. The list of messages that are ego tells us can go on and on, and it all tears away at our inner and outer happiness little by little. So how do we get out of such a pattern that can so easily fallen into? Know that you have a choose between feeling good or bad. You and I can make the choice to tell ourselves that we are loved and accepted for just who we are at any given moment, that we are enough for whatever life throws our way.
Loving you for you can be tough. I have struggled with this, and still do, but little by little, I am healing. Everyday, it is an intentional practice.
Hear are some links that I have found helpful with the practices that I have been using in my own life
http://ezinearticles.com/?Mindfulness-Lets-You-Let-Go-of-Stress&id=9244472
http://ezinearticles.com/?Online-Yoga-Is-No-Stretch&id=9217283
https://www.facebook.com/HinkleYogaWellness/?pnref=story
A practice that is extremely simple, but incredibly effective is smiling and laughing. Do this as much as you can. Be brave and show that you that you want to be happy even if you might not feel like showing your smile, and I promise you that you will start to feel it! It maybe slowly at first, but you will definitely get there. Have faith in the wonderful person that you are! Giving yourself a hug can be very powerful too! Hug yourself like someone you love, and over time you will feel a wonderful deep joy and belonging! :-)
If you would, share some of your self love practices. How do you remind yourself that you are a great person when you might not be feeling that great?
I am always looking for new topics to talk about. Please let me know what you would like to hear about.