From The Straits Times    |

Love yourself

Have you ever been in a situation where you simply don’t believe in love anymore because it seems like it’s not enough no matter how much you’ve been contributing?

It’s time to let go of people you’ve been trying so desperately to hold on to and love yourself.

Loving yourself can be easily said and written down as a goal, but in reality, might feel like it’s almost impossible to achieve. I’ve been told many times to love myself first before I invest my heart and soul in a relationship. The truth is I’m a giver of love. I thrive on love. I would do anything I can to make love work. So how do I actually “love myself”?

 

Loving yourself means investing in your own growth.

It means seeing your own value and constantly strive to improve and become the best version of yourself. It means setting aside some time for yourself every day to reflect upon your actions, to learn from mistakes and to be contented with just being alone. Do something that scares you to the point that it motivates you to become better. Be it saving up for a solo trip to discovering new things or simply engaging in some quiet self-reflection time by the beach, pursue things that make you change your perspectives in life.

 

Love yourself

 

Loving yourself means putting yourself first.

It could just mean choosing to stay at home with your favourite drama instead of going out on a date with someone who treats you like an option. Tempting as it may be, dating someone who asks you out just because they are bored can be toxic. You may be enjoying their company and start investing feelings, but what you don’t realise is that they might be busy filling their days with people just to pass time. Choose your company wisely. Don’t let anyone or anything define your worth. Take time to find out what you want before you become emotionally invested.

 

Loving yourself means accepting you.

Our days are numbered, so let’s make each one count. It’s so easy to scroll through your Instagram or Facebook feed yearning for the kind of life others are living. Don’t. Stop looking at how others are portraying their lives through the screen. You don’t know what battles they are fighting on their own behind the scenes. Accept that you are not going to get married and have kids anytime soon even though the whole world seemed to have received an engagement ring. Take time to find out what you want and don’t want in a partner, and let love seek you. Let the right love find you.

 

Love yourself first and the rest will fall into place.

Loving yourself also means you need to trust the right time will come and that being alone now is perfectly okay. You don’t need someone to make yourself happy. Choose to be happy even being alone. Accept that you only need yourself. You can only truly learn how to love others when you are happy with yourself.

With that, I hope that the next time someone tells you to love yourself, you can proudly say, “I am”.

 

Love yourself girl

This article was first published on Myfatpocket