If you have been following my ramblings this may you will know that this month I have dedicated may as the month of self love in practice. My journey with self-love practice changes each year. Some years it is all about pampering, some years boosting my internal sense of self worth, some years have just been about giving myself time to do what I wanted to do. But this year has been about self love on a time deficit! I have had one of the busiest Mays in many a year and more than ever I need to take care of myself. And it’s made me realise something really important about selflove practice.
Love is the foundation upon which all healthy lives are built upon.
I mean it should be obvious -right? We all know that love makes the world go around. It is love that is the foundation of all of our most important relationships with our partners, our children, our family and the gods (however you dom or don’t define them.) It is love that nurtures powerful growth, allows people to thrive and blossom.
So it makes sense that loving ourselves in the way we love, say our children is the foundation for us truly growing, blossoming and reaching our full potential.
And from this thought I have been cultivating a new approach to self-love.
What if we loved ourselves the way we love our children?
Now wouldn’t that be something!
Think about it. We love our children unconditionally, despite their flaws, the tantrums, the mistakes and the frustrations. Why not apply that same grace to ourselves? I found this idea has completely turned around my idea of self-love adn how to put it into action. All of a sudden the face masks and candles have gone out of the window (well back in the cupboard). And what has replaced this surface level self love practice is a deeper rooted, more nurturing form of self love than I have ever experienced before.
And it’s based on the roots of good parenting!
There are certain absolute truths that are the keys to being a good parent, and raising your child- despite the lack of a handbook. The ones I think we can all agree on are the following:
- Loving unconditionally
- Encouraging passions and personal growth
- Setting boundaries
- Nurturing the body with good food and rest
- Fostering self-responsibility
- Forgiving and accepting
- Supporting the through the bad times
- Celebrating their achievements
- Telling them how proud we are of them.
- Putting them first
- Believing in them.
Mr T has a saying that can be applied perfectly to that kind of behaviour.- “Det dumb” (That’s stupid).
How about instead you ask yourself
Would I treat my child the way I am treating myself?
And if the answer is no, then change your behaviour.
True love is not just all about the roses and the candles. It’s about doing what is right. Taking responsibility. Caring and supporting. And above all accepting someone is exactly as they are. And loving it.
Try loving yourself the way you love your child this week and see how your relationship with yourself changes
Let me know how it goes in the comments below
Have a wonderful week
Love
Emma-Jane xxxx
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