“Life is always changing,” and “There are ups and downs in life.” I believe we have all heard these phrases before, and over time, we come to realize just how true they are. Challenges are a part of life—no one walks a perfectly straight path without struggles or distress.
Getting through tough times is never easy – after all, the word “tough” itself says it all. But recently, some interesting questions have been on my mind: Is there a better way to walk through these valleys? Can we navigate them with more ease, knowing that we are here for ourselves – to help and support ourselves? Perhaps the answer lies in self-love.
Definition of Self-Love
When we talk about self-love here, we don’t mean a love that revolves around making ourselves happy while ignoring the world around us. Rather, it is a genuine love, kindness, and goodwill that we extend to ourselves during tough times. It is also the forgiveness and support we offer ourselves when we misstep or make mistakes – and even the compassion and forgiveness we extend to others when we have been wronged.
Self-love can be a powerful source of strength, helping us get back on track, move forward, and continue our journey with hope.
How Can We Cultivate Self-Love During These Times?
There’s no single action that guarantees self-love will suddenly appear or solve all our problems. However, I’ve learned that when we practice it little by little, it can nurture our hearts and bring ease and calm to our minds.
And it is such a privilege to share with you some ways to cultivate self-love. More than anything, my purpose in writing this is to send you love, hugs, and support, and to remind you that we all share the same ups and downs in life as human beings.
1. BECOME MORE MINDFUL
The first step in preparing ourselves to cultivate self-love is to become more mindful – to stay in the present moment. This helps keep our minds from racing like restless monkeys, jumping between regrets of the past and worries about the future.
The present moment is the only moment that truly exists. And when we become aware of it, we gain an opportunity to observe and understand what is happening within and around us.
2. SOLVE WHAT WE CAN AND ACCEPT WHAT WE CANNOT
With our own wisdom, the support of those we trust and love, and the care of those who love us, we can gradually work through our problems. We may not be able to solve everything at once, but we can take it step by step.
However, it is certain that some situations cannot be fixed. Perhaps these are the things we need to try to understand and accept as they truly are.
3. THINK GOOD THOUGHTS AND SPEAK KINDLY TO OURSELVES
Self-talk – whether in the form of internal thoughts or spoken words – happens so quickly that many of us don’t even notice it. Yet a single thought can either lift us up or bring us down. The words we speak affirm what we believe about ourselves.
Buddhism compares the mind to water, which naturally flows downward. However, we can redirect it with awareness. Similarly, the Bible says to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, meaning we have the power to choose which thoughts take root in our minds and replace them with positive ones.
During hard times, it is especially important to speak truthful, kind, and encouraging words to ourselves.
4. RECOGNIZE OUR WORTH
Our worth is not something we need to earn, nor does it disappear when we make mistakes. We can learn to once again acknowledge and appreciate the value we may have forgotten.
These can be small things that only we know – perhaps our honesty, our good intentions, the efforts we make to care for our planet, or the kindness we show freely and generously. All of these are meaningful and worthwhile.
5. PRACTICE SELF-CARE AND ENJOY WHAT WE LOVE (OR USED TO LOVE) MORE
Taking care of ourselves during tough times is essential, even when we don’t feel like it. Shower, take a nice bath, wash our hair, brush our teeth, eat nourishing foods, stay active, and get proper sleep – we know what we need to do.
Maybe we have been so focused on the black dots in our lives that we’ve forgotten the good things happening around us.
What if we allowed ourselves to be happy again? What if we took this opportunity to reconnect with the things we used to love? What if we picked up an old hobby or played that instrument we once enjoyed?
And most importantly, during these times, please do not withdraw yourself from those you love and those who love you. Stay close to them. They are here for you, just as you would be for them.
And for those of you who feel like you don’t have anyone – look inside yourself, and you will see the hero that lies within. You still have yourself!
Lastly, this blog doesn’t have all the answers, nor is it a formula for solving problems. But it is here to remind you that we, as human beings, share the same ups and downs in life. Hard times don’t last forever, and the way we treat ourselves during these times truly matters.
You are loved.
You are strong.
You are worthy.
And you are not alone.
With love and support.💙
