Three Simple Ways To Love Yourself More

Often, we spend so much time worrying about everyone and everything else, we tend to forget about our own needs and feelings. This is a recent article I wrote for the incredible MamaZen program. It’s written with moms in mind, but the tips are for anyone that needs to find a little more love for herself (or himself). I wanted to share it here for thefithouse readers, and I highly encourage you to check out MamaZen for some more incredible articles and amazing ways to add more peace into your life.

Take a moment to think back to the moment your first child was born. What do you remember? For me, I picture that amazing moment when I got to “meet” my son after months and months of waiting; I nestled him close to my chest and all I could do was stare at him in awe (as I told my husband to order me a grilled cheese sandwich). True story. 

I didn’t think, at that moment, that I would or could love anyone or anything as much as I loved my son. Of course, in reality, when you really think about it, that’s kind of a funny thing to say. After all, love is, in truth, a boundless and renewable resource. As long as we have the capacity for love, there will be an unending supply; we can’t run out of it as if it’s oil or land.

However, despite all of this, when we start to pour all of our love into our children, it seems we pour less into ourselves. Whether it’s because of a sense of unworthiness, guilt, stress, or just a mixed-up perception that motherhood requires us to put everyone else first, our tendency as moms seems to lean toward not loving ourselves enough.

The ironic thing is, if we did concentrate on loving who we see in the mirror more, we would generate even more love for our families. It’s the goal of MamaZen to empower all of us moms to believe that we are enough, and we are worthy. 

So, here are three simple ways to love yourself more:

• Invest in Yourself — This isn’t about investing money, although there’s nothing wrong with getting a manicure and some fun make-up if that’s your thing. I’m talking about investing in who you are as a person. Take some time to really get to know you. What is it you like? What do you dream about doing? Read books, watch videos, take a class, whatever you can do to continually learn about anything and everything that is important to you. You are amazing, talented, and blessed with unique gifts. Love yourself enough to develop these gifts and continually grow as an individual.
  
  
• Learn To Say “No” — I’m not talking about telling your kids no when they ask for a new iPhone. I’m talking about saying no to anything that makes you overextend yourself. If you already have a full schedule, and you want more time with your family, then don’t volunteer to head the PTA or make five-dozen cupcakes for your boss’s surprise party. Know what matters most to you and do what you need to do to make it happen; and a lot of times saying yes to what you want, means saying no to everyone else.
  
  
• Say Goodbye to the Joneses — You’re probably familiar with the saying, “Keeping up with the Joneses,” but it doesn’t just have to do with money. It means wanting to appear like you have it all in every area of your life, including being a supermom. The thing is, most of the Joneses are probably putting on a show and just as exhausted, if not more so, than you. So, trying to compare yourself and bend over backward to “keep up” will ultimately just make you more frustrated and unhappy. Instead, concentrate on what it is that you want from your life and discuss it with your partner and family. Focus on what you need to do to reach your own goals, not the goals of your next-door neighbor with the $500 stroller, homemade pies on the window sill, and three-story-jungle gym in the backyard. 
  

If you find that you are struggling to give yourself the love you truly deserve, then it is essential for you to set aside just a few moments to shift your focus. Taking some time to do something good for you, like listening to powerful and peaceful Mindpower Sessions™, like those found on MamaZen, just a few times a week, can completely change your life. Simply giving yourself the gift of love creates a change in your whole perspective. Before you know it, you’ll begin to allow yourself to feel more love than you ever believed possible, and even more special, you’ll begin to understand that your love is for you too.