8 Acts of Self Love

The months leading up to my divorce I thought that an act of self-love was for the single ladies. As a wife, I was made to believe that you devoted your life to your children and nothing else. As I'm a firm believer in devoting yourself to your children, I also believe that your cup needs to runneth over too...if you believe in that.

My point is that I believed once you’re a mother you couldn’t practice self-love anymore.

What I know now to be true is self-love is something that I make a priority for myself as part of my “self-care regime.”

When you respect yourself, you respect your body, which has a domino effect on every other area of your life, including your children’s lives.

As a result of carving out time for self-love activities, you feel happier and more positive which leads you to make better decisions such as better food choices and saying no to things you really don’t want to do and people you do not wish to surround yourself with.

There are many acts of self-love but here’s a list of a few of my favorite acts of self-love.

1. Meditate.

By carving out time to step away from people, your computer, work and the stresses of everyday life, you allow yourself the opportunity to connect with your spirit, the essence of your being. Hanging out in stillness is a surefire way to cultivate a loving experience of life.

2. Eat clean and “follow the rainbow.”

Dumping the toxic junk and reducing or eliminating your consumption of animal products while loading up on glorious life-sustaining enzyme-packed plant foods tell your body that you respect it and love it and I guarantee it will love you right back. The more colorful vegetables you can incorporate into your diet, the better. They are filled with antioxidants which have been proven to fight cancer.

3. Live in the NOW

If you haven't had the opportunity to read Eckhert Tooles book, The Power of Now, I highly recommend it. Training your mind to stay present rather than staying stuck on the never-ending conveyor belt thinking about the past, you are able to experience and enjoy where you are in every moment. The NOW, which is all you will ever have.

4. Get Outdoors

Being in nature and making friends with the birds and the bees helps you to get reacquainted with every form of life and reminds you of the beauty that exists around you always.

5. Forgive yourself.

Set yourself free from the chains you’ve encased yourself in. If you are regretting a bad decision, wishing you had done something differently or simply have a habit of giving yourself a hard time, forgive yourself for everything you have done that you wish you had not. You’re human, we all make mistakes and the key is to learn from them and move on.

6. Take a sabbatical from social media.

Turn off your phone, computer and TV; run a bath, read a good book or write in your journal. Spend some time alone.

7. Trust your intuition.

Numbers 1, 3, and 4 of this list will help you build a stronger connection to your intuition so that you can hear it more clearly and then follow it.

8. Do what you LOVE.

Make a list of all the things you love to do including things or activities you have been wanting to do for a while and MAKE TIME for them.