Embracing Self-Love

Another Valentine’s Day has come, and passed. Love is most definitely in the air.

Truth is, LOVE is everywhere, everyday, if we just open our hearts and our minds, be still and pay attention. And it all begins with self-love.

This concept of self-love may seem cliche to some. We hear and read about it all the time, but something is different now. A very strong message around cultivating self-love keeps appearing for me. The vibration is high. Loving myself has not been a strength. I’m not enough. I need to be and do more. At least that’s been my belief, the story I’ve been telling myself for years. Always striving for perfection, something that doesn’t even exist. A path to self destruction. What is that all about?

This new challenge I face with vision loss has me pausing, focused and purposefully working on changing that story.

The message that keeps coming up for me is that the act of loving myself can be revolutionary. As humans, when we open our hearts to self-love, we not only transform our own lives, we also radiate warmth and compassion into the universe, touching the lives of others in profound ways. This journey towards self acceptance is not just about feeling good; it’s about recognizing the power of our hearts.

During a 6:15am hot yoga flow on Valentine’s Day at Mindful Movements, our instructor Ang, talked about our heart’s wisdom as we began our practice in fish pose, a heart opener. My take on Ang’s message is that our heart is a very sophisticated organ, having it’s own nervous system with the ability to heal and connect with every cell in our body. When we embrace self-love, we create a ripple affect that extends beyond ourselves. Our hearts, filled with love and compassion, emanate energy that can influence those around us. Imagine a world where everyone is empowered to love themselves, where kindness, empathy, and understanding flourish.

This message really resonated with me. If I learn to love myself, am I helping others? Now that is powerful. It gives a whole new meaning to self-love. In fact, it takes a bit of the weirdness away.

I’m beginning to realize that every act of self-love sends vibrations into the universe, contributing to a collective consciousness that nurtures humanity. When we care for ourselves, we become more compassionate towards others. We begin to see the interconnectedness of all beings and recognize that our love can heal wounds, bridge divides, and inspire change.

The BIG question, how do I go about loving myself?

What if I rewrite my definition of success to read something like, honouring my own natural rhythm as opposed to culture’s sprint-like speed?

What if I become mindful of my self-talk, and rewire it to mirror the type of language and love that I speak and have for my dearest friends? What if I actually become my own best friend?

What if I learn to let go of the past, the shaming for mistakes, and the hurt I may have caused others? What if I practice forgiveness?

What if I learn to love and truly embrace all of my imperfections, including my loss of vision?

What if I honour my new limitations, my inability to keep up with the busy-ness of our times and simply surrender to each moment as it opens?

What if I praise myself for not finishing the ‘to do’ list or for not crossing the finish line because my body says, enough?

What if I choose the quiet of my soul over those voices always driving me towards more?

What if I become intentional about cultivating friendships with people who lift me up, contradict that unkind voice and see my light?

What if I give myself one of those tight, warm, squeezy Kristin hugs each day before my feet hit the floor?

Oh, and what if I learn how to RECEIVE love?? That’s a big one for this girl!

This journey to loving myself really is profound. It’s a reminder of the incredible potential of our hearts and the wisdom they hold. Cultivating love for ourselves can send waves of love into the universe, creating a brighter more compassionate world for all, fostering hope and something beautiful during these times of chaos, disconnectedness and uncertainty.

Self-love is a movement, it’s cool and it’s incredibly healing for oneself and for humanity. When we love ourselves, we illuminate the path for others to follow.

Thank you for landing here today and for taking a few moments to share with me. Perhaps something in my self-love discoveries speaks to you. Sending heartfelt love letters out to all who could use one today and always.

Peace & Love,