LOVING THYSELF

As I was driving home the other day, the question of “why do we compete with things outside of ourselves?” kept challenging me as I thought about myself and what I have been struggling with for several months to get a handle on. My logical and nurturing self, became very dominant then, reminding me that we need to love our self and be content with what we got in the here and now.

Comparing ourselves to others is a one-way ticket to the dark side. Suicide, depression, anxiety, self-harm to name a few. Often, when others would make their comments, “Oh Dorinda, you’re gaining some weight there”, I’d just laugh at the comment and try to take it in good faith. My reply to them is usually, “Well, I’m contented and I’m feeling good with myself”. I have removed a major stressful situation out of my life and although there are daily ups and downs, the truth is I have peace of mind. Through my journey thus far, I realized that –

1. I have accepted myself, flaws and all.

2. I have accepted the fact that control is superficial. Sometimes it’s within our power but most often it is not. The one thing I have total control of is me! My actions and reactions, my self-worth and where and when I allow myself to physically be at a given moment in time.

3. I have learned to accept changes in life and refuse to let negativity get the best of me. I made that decision!!

Sometimes, I would log in to Instagram and see models and think to myself, “If only I wasn’t so lazy to work out, I would probably not have this tummy”. I am after all, human; however, my self-nurturing mindset would jump in and I think again to myself – “not all that glitter is gold!” I have to … MUST … love and accept myself just the way I am now – anyway, shape or form. Change is good – all the time – and I will get to that physical weight when I am ready. I made the decision not to beat myself up for looking a certain way, but to love myself through the journey of getting to my ideal body weight.

Mind you, it is always a good decision to take care of your physical self. We can do this with a healthy diet and exercise, massages, pedicures, manicure, getting dressed up and looking good, but I guarantee you – when you are feeling good inside (mindset), everything, no matter what you are wearing, glows brighter on the outside. Self-care is a non-negotiable part of life or it should be. It is for me. It makes me glow even when those close to me comment on my weight.

It makes me recognize pride for what it is. Self-care is a very important part of my life because it makes me feel good about me – no matter what the outside influences are. Therefore, comparing myself to others would only drive me to a world of insanity. These days social media have portrayed a lifestyle for millennials that makes one think, that they need to live up to certain standards to be accepted. I believe I never have to impress anyone. 100%! We are diverse beings, on our own journey. What might work for you may not work for me and visa versa. Overall, knowing yourself, your true self!, and loving who you truly are can only be the one thing that moves you on this journey of life. Let’s create a movement of self-love!!

xoxoxo Dorinda