The Greatest Form Of Self-Love
Self-care has always been a trendy word.Taking personal time is totally worth it; from a long walk in nature to reading a book, it can reset your mind. However, the term is often oversimplified to just mean time to pamper yourself or get your nails done but it’s so much more than that!
So how do you learn to love yourself and care for yourself?
The first place to begin is to just notice how you relate to your body's physical needs.
Every time you deny your physical needs, you stay up just a little longer when you need to sleep, or work when you need to rest, "hold it" when you really have to pee and etc… you send the message to your body that it's not important.
We do this all day long with food; we shovel down breakfast or we rush through lunch so we can get those last few emails sent, or we skip dinner because we're dieting.
So to answer the question “how do you learn to love yourself?” I’d say, you must make yourself a priority and adapt to the self-love/self-care diet!
Loving yourself at a physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual level. When you get down to it self-care/self-love is an act that fuels you, rather than deplete you. And that can mean different things to different people but for many a good place to start is focusing on self-love nutrition and relationship with food.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
1. Eat when you're hungry
Hunger signals mean the body needs to be refueled; ignore them long enough, which we do when we're busy, stressed or dieting, and they'll become blunted. I hear so many people say "I don’t get any hunger cues." That's not the only physical sign of hunger; lack of focus, irritability and nervousness can all indicate the need for food. Food provides nourishment, and to deny yourself food is, literally, to deny yourself nourishment.
However, here's a fine distinction: people say "So I should eat every time I'm hungry, even if it's all day long, nonstop?" To that, I would ask, "What are you really hungry for? Is it really food?" You'd be surprised by how often "hunger" is really the body calling for rest, or sweetness, or some kind of attention that has nothing to do with food.
2. Stick to basics
Not sure where to start? Keeping it simple helps changes become manageable and sustainable. Make a goal to just include more vegetables in your diet or drink more water throughout the day. It doesn’t have to be a monumental shift. You can experiment with what habits work for you. Some people may find that using a meal delivery service takes the stress out of figuring out what to have for dinner every night and that is a huge relief for them. Others may decide that time spent pursuing cookbooks and blogs for new recipes to try is a sort of creative outlet.
3. When you eat, eat
Don't read, watch TV, work, drive or engage in stressful conversations. Just eat. Be present with what you're doing and mindful of the food and your body's sensations. Look at your food; smell it, notice how it feels in your mouth, really taste it. Most importantly, pay attention to how it feels in your body. Is it working for you? Your body will give you feedback if you just slow down and get quiet enough to hear.
4. Slow down
Part of that feedback loop includes the body's message that it's full. Sometimes, that message comes long before the plate or bowl is empty, even mid-forkful. But you'll miss that signal if you're rushing through your food. So sit down, every time, even if it's for "just a few bites." If all you want is a spoonful of ice cream, take a spoonful out of the container, put it in a small bowl, return the container to the freezer, and sit down at the table with your small bowl. Eat it slowly and mindfully.
5. Eat what you're hungry for
I can almost hear you saying "What!?!?
I realize this is discouraging or even frightening for people with food issues and sensitivities, like allergies, certain food addictions, diabetes and people on strict weight loss diets. Let me explain: examine your desire and see if there's something in the food that you're specifically craving. For example, if you're yearning for a specific ice cream flavor and brand, what’s about that food that you need or want? Is it the coldness, or the creaminess, or the sweetness? Once you identify what exactly you're craving so strongly, you might be able to find something else that satisfies those sensory taste needs.
6. Be conscious of how these changes make you feel
If you don’t realize how these changes affect your mood it won’t be as beneficial. Be aware of what you do, why you do it, how it feels, and what the outcomes are.
7. Treat your body with respect
Mindless eating, shoveling food into your mouth or chomping on a sandwich while you're driving your car are disrespectful, even demeaning, behaviors. Treat your body as you would a beloved. Feed it gently, attentively, with care. And feed it clean food.
We say we want to "indulge," and then we do it with too much cheap, low-quality food, oversized restaurant meals and highly processed packaged foods.
So next time , when you desire chocolate (if you're a person who can eat chocolate,that is) then have chocolate; buy an expensive bar of the highest-quality you can find, go home with it still in the wrapper, sit down with it, unwrap it slowly, break off a small piece, smell it, place it on your tongue and let the warmth of your mouth melt it against your palate. Notice the sensations you experience in your mind and body. It's a completely different experience than biting down a cheap chocolate bar on the way out of the grocery store.
And one that's very loving.
If you wish to receive some support, or have questions, feel free to click HERE and book your complimentary consult session with me.I can’t wait to support you in your journey or alternatively , CLICK HERE and join the waitlist to join our “Simply Connect Community”.