I’m going to get real cliche on you for a moment, real self-helpy, real Tony Robbins…are you ready? The REAL route to joy (wait for dramatic applause from audience), IS LOVING YOURSELF. Yes, I know, you’re probably rolling your eyes and cringing right now, but I’m going to stick with this, and I’m going to double down and explain why. I have learned, in these almost 40 years (yikes), that we can hope and try and maneuver and position ourselves a thousand ways to be loved by others, we can date, we can have sex, we can fall in love, we can lose and start fresh, and no matter what, it only pours and fills our mugs 90% full. No matter how many love us, no matter how deeply they do, if we don’t reciprocate for ourselves, often enough to call it always, we’ll never be full. The ONE thing we have control of when it comes to love, is the love we give ourselves. I firmly believe, if we do not begin there, we’ll never learn how to give it to anyone else properly. We must begin with ourselves, placing the oxygen mask of appreciation over our own face before we even begin putting it over others. THIS, my self-help-receiving-that-you-never-asked-for-friends, is the real route to joy. This is the key. Plain and simple. Start now. Say something nice about yourself in the comments. First thing that pops into your head. What do you love?
I consider myself a good cook. I am no expert, but I am learning. That’s the fun part isn’t it? The learning process. I also love hosting (pre-COVID) and I am good at bringing people together over good conversations, tasty drinks, and delicious home made food. I am always considered the planner and social one in all my friend groups.
One thing I like about myself is that I will never stop fighting for my English Learners to be treated with equity so they can get the education they deserve.
i agree. but what is "love"? it seems like it's unconditional acceptance, giving yourself the same slack and forgiveness you give to others. love yourself the way you love a tree or a dog -- you accept yourself as such, as such a person, without the need to "change" to be accepted by yourself, without stipulation. you can respect yourself as an entity that you don't totally understand, you can have a curiosity about yourself as you "wait" to see what you yourself have decided to do. obviously laugh at yourself. when i was young and people said I needed to "love" myself I didn't know what that meant, I thought I was supposed to have these strong feelings for myself. instead, i think for me that "love" of myself is for the most part not thinking about myself at all, letting myself be. anyway one thing i love about myself which is annoying is that if i start watching a movie or reading a book that i know i'm going to hate, i'll finish it with lots of extra attention so that i can make fun of it later with more credibility. yes, it's an a*hole thing to do, but it cracks me up.
i love myself for doing hard things this week - doing a lot of what i don’t want to do but right now i have to get through it! i’m not quitting and that’s a huge win
I'm working on loving myself, and it's been a journey. I love that I can be a safe place for others to confide in, someone to lean on and not judge them for whatever they are going through.
I love the melanin in my skin. I also love my curly hair and the little freckles on my nose! Most of all, I love that I always find the beauty in everyone and everything.
A, my hair is amazing. And B, I'm pretty darn funny. :-)
Love this, Tyler...the cliche + especially the picture.
I’m practicing loving sadness, anger, + grief. It’s the only way. I have to love it, to transform it.
I consider myself a good cook. I am no expert, but I am learning. That’s the fun part isn’t it? The learning process. I also love hosting (pre-COVID) and I am good at bringing people together over good conversations, tasty drinks, and delicious home made food. I am always considered the planner and social one in all my friend groups.
One thing I like about myself is that I will never stop fighting for my English Learners to be treated with equity so they can get the education they deserve.
As cliche as this might be. It is always true and the reminder needs to be said more often.
i agree. but what is "love"? it seems like it's unconditional acceptance, giving yourself the same slack and forgiveness you give to others. love yourself the way you love a tree or a dog -- you accept yourself as such, as such a person, without the need to "change" to be accepted by yourself, without stipulation. you can respect yourself as an entity that you don't totally understand, you can have a curiosity about yourself as you "wait" to see what you yourself have decided to do. obviously laugh at yourself. when i was young and people said I needed to "love" myself I didn't know what that meant, I thought I was supposed to have these strong feelings for myself. instead, i think for me that "love" of myself is for the most part not thinking about myself at all, letting myself be. anyway one thing i love about myself which is annoying is that if i start watching a movie or reading a book that i know i'm going to hate, i'll finish it with lots of extra attention so that i can make fun of it later with more credibility. yes, it's an a*hole thing to do, but it cracks me up.
i love myself for doing hard things this week - doing a lot of what i don’t want to do but right now i have to get through it! i’m not quitting and that’s a huge win
I'm working on loving myself, and it's been a journey. I love that I can be a safe place for others to confide in, someone to lean on and not judge them for whatever they are going through.
I would say.... I like that I’m open minded and that my friends and loved ones often ask my advice
I love that I am brave enough to wake up and fight my demons every morning. Even when I’m still exhausted from the battle the day before.
Any other Enneagram 2 folks out there that this resonated with?
Now where did I put that oxygen mask?
I am strong and I am loved -
regardless of any one else’s love for me
I don’t have to “earn” it
because I already have it!
That being said - I love you all my fellow Chasers!!!
I love my smile, everyone says it radiates warmth, and I love to give people a brief smile when I can, just to show them a little warmth.
I love the melanin in my skin. I also love my curly hair and the little freckles on my nose! Most of all, I love that I always find the beauty in everyone and everything.
I love that I will always fight for justice. I can't stand unfairness and I won't stop before I see something made right.
I love my passion for helping others!
Persistence, Courage and Love......as well as sarcasm.