Fostering Wellness

How I truly Learned to Love Myself.

Self-Love. Lets take a minute to think about that word.

Self-Love. Lets take another minute to decide what it means.

For me, Self-Love means accepting myself for my strengths and my weaknesses. It means trusting myself, protecting myself and most of all it means making myself happy and content. – FaithnTurtles

Coming to this personal definition wasn’t easy. Loving yourself, like many other things in life is often easier said than done. I have been saying I love myself for many years but i didn’t fully know or appreciate that or what it meant until God made me appreciate it.

When I decided to transform my pain into purpose is when I truly began to love myself.

How I Truly Learned to Love Myself

Acceptance – Accepting Myself

“For every Man shall bear his own burden”- Galatians 6:5

I have made decisions in my life that may not have been the wisest of decisions and for a long time, I was haunted by those decisions. I was haunted by the mistakes or wrong turns I felt that I made. Yet, I claimed Self-Love.

How can I love myself but at the same time not accept myself? Logically it doesn’t make sense so I asked God to give me acceptance. Accepting yourself is the first step in loving and celebrating yourself.

A Self – Knowing that I am a Self

In learning to accept yourself you will realize that you are a self.

self-
“a person’s essential being that distinguishes them from others, especially considered as the object of introspection or reflexive action. “

Yourself is what makes you unique. The element of your being that sets you apart from everyone else in the world. Doesn’t that sound cool?

In accepting myself I came to the realization that I am a self. I am a person with unique capabilities, unique decision-making skills, unique adversities and although these may lead to what are “common mistakes” that humans make; I am still unique in making them. This also means that I must be unique in overcoming and unique in loving myself.

I am not my decisions – Not Being Defined by isolated Actions or Decisions

You are not your decisions and I am not my decisions. After accepting myself and noting the fact that I am a self. I then noted the fact that I am not my decisions. One element of myself doesn’t define me as a person. Only I can define me, nothing or no one else can. I am not my:

  • friends, family or parents
  • past relationships
  • failures
  • successes

I am a product of what I have been through and overcame. which is a result of my experiences that have helped to shape me into a good person who does not take defeat and strives to empower others. I am a product of my never-ending fight to be the best that I can be as instructed by God.

Who are you? Tell me on my Instagram : @faithnturtles

ForgivenessForgiving Myself

How can you accept yourself and come to a distinct understanding about your being but you have not forgiven yourself? How can you ask God for forgiveness but you have not forgiven yourself?

In the answers to these questions, I found self love.

“if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1st John 1:9

It’s a Journey – Trusting The Process

Loving yourself wont happen over night. You need to take the time to know yourself, accept yourself, forgive yourself and then the love will find you.

It’s a journey and a process of continued improvement but with faith, you will get there, if you aren’t already.

This piece was originally posted on NancyFleuidor.com as a guest entry.

Shanice DK is a Freelance Writer within the beauty and wellness niche. She enjoys spending time in nature, writing, and crafting handmade items. You can catch up with Shanice on her business website - Shanicedk.site. Or on Instagram @faithnturtles.

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