Awaken My Heart: A Guide to Living with Self-Love

Welcome to day one of your self love journey! The idea of self-love has become more and more popular- we hear it in conversations. “You have to love yourself more.” “You can’t love another until you love yourself.” We read about it in colorful memes encouraging us to blossom or be kind to ourselves. But what does it really mean to love ourselves? Over the next 10 days we will cultivate a deeper understanding of what self-love truly is, what stands in the way of us experiencing it, and how we can take practical steps to having a more relaxed and loving relationship with our own self.

Awareness is the first step in conscious transformation. The more self aware we are, the more we can consciously choose behaviors that support our highest good. Today we will practice being able to more clearly hear the messages of our bodies, minds and emotions, and meeting ourselves with kindness.

Many of us have been raised to think that self care is selfish, and appreciating or praising ourselves is conceited or arrogant. It is more common to hear someone judging themself over praising themself. Today we will focus on self appreciation. Self appreciation is an important part of our self love journey, and is scientifically proven to have a positive impact on mental health, self-esteem, and overall life satisfaction.

Research shows that positive self-talk has many benefits. It enhances feelings of calm and supports stress management. It improves self-esteem and body image. It can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, help with chronic pain and so much more. Today we will develop a better understanding of the inner critic, how we speak to ourselves, and how we can cultivate greater kindness toward ourselves, starting with our minds.

Today we will use the power of affirmations to retrain our minds. Affirmations are short, powerful statements that we can think or speak out loud. The study of neuroscience shows us that connections in the brain, known as neural pathways, become stronger through repetition. And the stronger a neural pathway is, the more that way of thinking or behaving becomes a habit. So repeating self love affirmations, while feeling positive emotions, on a regular basis can literally rewire our brains to have self loving thoughts naturally.

Today we will practice feeling grateful for our incredible bodies. Studies have shown that body appreciation supports mental and emotional stability and wellbeing. It enhances feelings of confidence and self-esteem, increases intuitive eating, and decreases eating disorders, depression and anxiety. Your body is amazing. No matter what you do, your heart keeps beating for you non-stop. Your organs function to the best of their ability, even when you might not be taking the best care of them. Even those with physical impairments or disabilities are able to enjoy the beauty, the pleasure, the sweetness, the richness of life because of the body’s senses, brain, and heart.

Today we will practice being with our emotions from a place of inquiry and compassion. In general, emotion is the driving force behind our decision making and behavior. They are a natural part of being human. Emotions are neither good nor bad, although we tend to label them like this. They are a passing experience, and can be messengers from our inner being, showing us that we need to tend to ourselves in a certain way. When we feel fully, we experience the relief and wellbeing of allowing the emotion to pass through us. Energy in motion. Rather than resisting emotions, we learn to be with them, to tend to them, and to even use emotions as the creative power they truly are in our lives.

Gratitude is scientifically proven to reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and pain. And practicing gratitude for ourselves on a regular basis, boosts confidence, self esteem, and our overall enjoyment of life and wellbeing. It can also improve sleep quality and heart health, reduce feelings of loneliness and bring life, joy and sweetness into our relationships. Gratitude shifts us from feeling that our lives are lacking something, to living in genuine feelings of contentment and fulfillment. Today we will practice feeling gratitude for our own beloved self.

Research shows that authenticity leads to happiness, and being authentic is an expression of being true to you. Being true to you means you are in integrity with yourself, aligned with your values and highest good. Living in this way improves self confidence, builds healthier relationships, reduces stress, and gives access to more enjoyment and fulfillment in life. Authenticity is one of the most impactful ways we can express love for ourselves. Today we will become aware of the signs that we are not living in alignment with our highest good, and learn how to be true to ourselves.

Today we will learn a powerful technique to cultivate greater self compassion. Compassion is an invaluable tool to help us move from the contracted thoughts and emotions of the inner critic, to the expansion and freedom of self love. It helps to increase feelings of happiness and contentment, reduce stress and psychopathology, and increase overall physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Compassion is the nectar of the heart. A balm for the soul. It is the warmth that brings us closer to those we care for, and a doorway to a tender and peaceful way of life.

Enjoy these bonus techniques that you can use on a daily basis to help cultivate thoughts and feelings that are rooted in self love.