A simple practice can change your mindset and teach you to love yourself!
My Inspiration
I was reading an old diary entry the other day and found something that struck me:
"I know this is over-dramatic, but this is how I'm feeling."
Then I continued to rant in the diary entry about something that, in the grand scheme of things, wasn't a huge deal. You may be thinking, Okay Savannah, why'd this particular sentence stand out to you?
It's a simple sentiment, really. I was validating my emotions. "This is how I'm feeling" gave my innermost thoughts a path to the page. It told my heart that it's okay to feel the way I was feeling. I acknowledged that I may have been overreacting, but I didn't discount myself for doing so.
So What?
By validating your emotions, you're telling yourself that you matter and that you're valued. Self-confidence and self-love begin with you, and this is a simple step to practice loving yourself.
"Nothing destroys self-worth, self-acceptance and self-love faster than denying what you feel. Without feelings, you would not know where you are in life. Nor would you know what areas you need to work on. Honor your feelings. Allow yourself to feel them." — Lyanla Vanzant
I want to encourage you to validate your emotions by allowing yourself to feel them. My main ways of expression are writing (whether it be journalling, poetry, songs, etc) and confiding in trusted friends or family. These are my mechanisms through which I validate myself, especially since I put emotions into words.
Make sure you have an outlet so you don't have to suppress what you feel. It's a healthy way of living!
DISCLAIMER: don't let your emotions consume you. There is a fine balance between feeling and wallowing. Let yourself feel sad or angry or afraid, but you don't have to stay in that place. Moving on is a healthy part of validating your emotions because you're letting yourself feel something new. Let yourself feel!
This is a short blog—in all honesty, I've been dealing with a severe case of writer's block—but I hope that you took something away from it. If nothing else, please remember how loved you are no matter how you're feeling!
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