luv thyself series - prompt #16

could you imagine if everybody introduced themselves the way k-pop idols do? if you haven't seen how they do it, you should look it up on youtube. sorry i know that's a random way to start. i was trying to figure out how to start this post other than hi and how are you because i do that every time, and i just decided to say that. now... how are you voizies 😊 hope you're ready for another post. we're almost done, got 9 left to go, and then i have to find a new challenge or thing to post on the luv thyself page.

link to the prompts: https://selflovecircle.co.uk/self-love-journal-prompts/

prompt #16: what does self-love mean to you?

self love has been tricky for me, but personally it's being honest with myself, listening to what my mind and body are telling me and not what others are saying, and being kind to myself without justification and practicing constantly. let me break this down for you.

being honest with yourself is tough. it is not something everyone wants to do, but you need to. if you don't, you are just putting off what you have to face later, and trust me; that's messy. over time, i've noticed that when i am honest with myself, it's like getting a shot. it hurts just a bit at first, but in the end the pain goes away, and my mind and body are protected and at ease. what am i avoiding? do i really like what i am doing? am i happy with my current situation? is that relationship really healthy? is that person necessary in my life? am i being too accessible to things and people that don't deserve my energy? taking the time to breathe mindfully and get my thoughts out has been good for me. by no means is it easy. i hate confrontation, even with myself. i like to just work and distract. again, infp's are conflict-averse. infp is me; i am infp. so as hard as it is, i have had to learn to face it. i faced the fact that career path i was pursuing might not have been the one for me, and though i haven't figured out which one is right for me yet, i am much better knowing that i accepted and confronted that reality.

facing reality though means i also have to shut out almost everything else except myself. social media and society's expectations can skew the way i see myself and my life. you only see a sliver of people's life online. that sliver is often a compilation of their best moments, and it doesn't show you what happens behind the screens. it doesn't show you what's under the editing and the aesthetic shots. it doesn't show you the insecurity and anxiety that comes with posting perfectly crafted pictures. because of that, i judge myself based on somebody's highlight reel, even though i know it's not always the truth. i've always judged where i was in life and my body and my mindset based on what other people look like and do. i've learned that a form of self love for me means that i have to mute expectations and opinions who have nothing to do with my life, my progress, and how i view myself. it's about how i feel and what reality i want to create for myself. even if it is unconventional and is different from what others expect or acknowledge as worthy, my life is what i make it to be and how i care for myself is not up to them. i'm enough. how i see myself should not be up to other people. comparing myself to other people does not get me anywhere. stop. doing. it.

as you may recall, i'm someone that often beats themselves up for not being productive or not having their things in order. hustle culture and the fear of failure have fueled that. it's not healthy, and it's something that i have been working on. i realized that my body and mind often tell me what i need. i just needed to listen. my exhaustion, my eyes being shot from looking at screens, the wrinkles, the ennui, the not enjoying the things that i literally enjoy, etc. those are all signs. they are signs that i need time for me. i need to care for myself a little more. i always come up with excuses as to why is deserve to indulge in something for myself whether it be food or entertainment. it's my way of justifying that i am worthy of that thing and that time. i don't need to do that. there is no reason to justify why i am kind to myself. my body and mind do too much for me to have to justify any kindness i give to myself. rest, eat, hydrate, and do the things you love without feeling guilty.

this self care series is for me to confront certain things while healthily processing them. i hope that you all can take from what i write and do the same for yourselves. there is no end to self-love. it is a daily and life-long practice. some days are harder than others, and we are always tweaking what self-love means to us. whatever it means to you, i hope that you remember that you are worthy and deserve all the love in the multi-verse. take care, and if you ever need help, i got you 🤍 till next time voizies.