The Path to True Self Love

One morning, just wake up and take more charge of life. Cook all the day’s meals, clean the house and the front yard too, walk an extra mile without getting behind the wheels of the car, tailor some of your own clothes, start maintaining a small garden to grow some produce. There are a million ways to be self-sustained, try out a few and see how it feels.

By Manmohan Singh

The phrase “self-love” might be something we look for on dark days of grappling with failings and lack of courage.

“Self-love” seems to be tossed around everywhere; from posters advertising a chic clothing line with the model hugging herself and dressed in exquisite threads, to a Happy Hour neon sign hanging at a club.

With all the myriad ways to pamper ourselves and indulge, we can still be miles away from truly loving and accepting ourselves and feeling perpetually divine. To develop an appreciation of what we are, comes from meaningful actions that progress us physically, psychologically, and especially spiritually. Once we begin to put in effort to overcome our physical handicaps, win over fears, and feel one with some grand scheme of the universe, we also begin being able to truly love ourselves without falling into the trap of vanity or getting led neck-deep down in indulgence.

The process may be gradual, appearing in various stages of our lives but when we finally unlock that door to unshakable love and respect for who we are and what we stand for, it will be sheer immortality. Here’s to exploring the ways to access that kind of self-love unbridled:

Set Personal Goals and Work Sincerely to Achieve Them

Set up goals at work and in personal life that meet both practicality and individual interest. Work out a schedule with ample time slotted for everything that you want to do, whether that be painting your nails or finishing that massive project at work, and keep true to it. Instead of complaining about what a lot there is to do, enjoy every step of the struggle and discover your perceived limitations suddenly expanding. Don’t forget to celebrate every little success.

Travel, Set Sail Out of Your Zone of Familiarity

Traveling is a great way to evolve by rediscovering yourself in new situations. While we get mechanically set into a pattern living out the same drill of life every day, there remains a vast scape of unexplored potentials within. Sometimes, it’s best to just drive past the familiar turn into a road not taken before and see how you become a new person. Traveling positively develops personality traits like good adaptability and cultural tolerance. Besides, the journey unveils a vastness that verily dwarfs self-centered resentments. Start keeping a journal of your travels, be a teller of your own stories and find self-love that way.

Engage In a Body-Positive Activity Like Yoga

Body-positivity denotes the acceptance and appreciation of all body types. Break out of cultural notions of beauty in shape, color and texture, and engage in a practice that connects to the inner self and to the soul. Yoga is a good way to turn the gaze away from the illusions of appearance and inwards. Asanas build strength in muscles, charge up the core, enhance flexibility and give our physical systems the boost they need. Yoga is a meditation that cultures peace, focus and silence in the mind.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of being present at the moment, fully aware and accepting of each passing feeling, thought, and bodily sensation. The practice expands the scope of experience in such a way that each moment becomes a lifetime. We simply get to live more. Begin practicing mindfulness with yogic techniques like yoga nidra meditation and extend the practice into the wider field in every action performed.

Become Self-Sustained In Everyday Work

We have become terrible creatures of comfort in the modern way of life where dependence is supreme. If we were to calculate our everyday quotient of requirements met, there will be more on the list that we can take credit for. One morning, just wake up and take more charge of life. Cook  all the day’s meals, clean the house and the front yard too, walk an extra mile without getting behind the wheels of the car, tailor some of your own clothes, start maintaining a small garden to grow some produce. There are a million ways to be self-sustained, try out a few and see how it feels.

Do Something For Others

It’s a strange paradox, but we can probably love ourselves more when we do something for others. The act of doing good for another simply pulls us out of our narrow universe and places us in a larger frame that increases value. Make it a point to help out the needy, asking for nothing in return.

Live Out Every Moment Of Life Intentionally

Lastly, live with purpose and design. Don’t give in to randomness, impulsive pulls, and acts devoid of any meaning. Take some time out to contemplate, think over, and analyze your actions if need be. Live out every moment with intent.

We have become terrible creatures of comfort in the modern way of life where dependence is supreme. ~ Manmohan Singh Share on X

Manmohan Singh is a passionate Yogi, Yoga Teacher and a Traveler in India. He provides Luxury yoga holidays and Luxury yoga retreats in India. He loves writing and reading the books related to yoga, health, nature and the Himalayas. He organize Luxury yoga retreats and Luxury yoga holiday tours in different locations of India.

Photo: Pixabay

Editor: Dana Gornall

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