Self Love vs. Self Care: Is there a difference?
With the mounting awareness of mental health, there's been a great deal of emphasis on self-love and self-care. And personally, I have to be honest. I initially didn't know there was a difference between the two. In fact, I've always classified them as interchangeable with one standard connection- they're both necessary dynamics for personal growth.
The more I started exploring, the more I began identifying that self-love and self-care actually work together. They have a vibe that forces you to be connected and present for yourself. So, what exactly makes self-love and self-care different?
Self-Love
Self-love is very easy to explain in words. It means to be kind... to YOURSELF. When saying it out loud, it's easy to do, but it's actually putting it in action that takes a lot of practice. So, let's be real for a moment. Have you ever stood in front of a mirror and criticized everything that you didn't like about yourself? Or have you crafted a fantastic idea that you didn't execute because of doubt? Yes, I can relate. In fact, I've been there many times myself.
When you begin to love yourself properly, you become more connected to your physical and mental needs. It's an entire transformation of putting yourself first, setting boundaries, and taking charge of your life. You value yourself in higher regard and can easily recognize when people aren't treating you the way you should be treated.
Loving yourself is not selfish nor arrogant. In fact, it’s a necessary attribute to improve your quality of life. Your goal should always focus on being the best lover to yourself that you wish to receive. Don’t rely on validation from others and be your own stamp of approval. When you genuinely love yourself right, you go from "I think I'm cute" to a "Dang sis! You did that!"
Yes! I want that kind of love.
Self-Care
So self-care is the manner in how we take care of our physical and mental self. It's our permission to put our needs first and explore deeper into what needs we aren't meeting. Think of it as recharging your mind and body to be able to conquer the world. Self-care should be relaxing and peaceful. You should have the freedom to disconnect from things that generate stress or chaos.
Create your self-care plan that is unique to your emotional and physical goals. Everyone's zen is different, but be sure to connect to your pathway to peace. Don't be afraid to experiment and discover new ways to disconnect. Self-care doesn't have to be costly. Create time for small acts of care towards yourself so that it becomes part of your daily routine. Use these examples of self-care to get started.
Find a good book to read or explore your creative side and write in a journal
Take a social media break
Pray and/or meditate
Go for a relaxing walk often
Watch a few inspirational TED Talks videos
Self-Love In Action
Learning to love yourself at any level is a process that requires you to just get in there and start. To see a change that emulates growth, it has to be your primary focus and routine. Always be cognizant of your well-being. Listen to your body and analyze your thoughts. To cultivate healthy relationships, it starts with the love you give yourself.
Make Healthy Choices
It's not a secret that eating a healthy diet and regular exercise is what our body needs to function correctly. It can be hard to jump-start into a new lifestyle but start by eliminating the things that are not good for you. Be intentional about moving your body and what you consume.
Create Positive Affirmations
Affirmations are like great accountability partners. They remind you of your worth and speak life into you when you need it the most. They always remind you to stay focused and motivate you with just a few positive words. Try writing your own "I am" statements or use these to help you get started.
I am proud of who I am.
I am beautiful inside and out.
I am willing to let my heart lead.
I am determined to look after myself.
I am no longer apologizing for being me.
Forgive Yourself
One of the biggest acts of love that you could show yourself is to forgive yourself. Yes! Forgiveness is vital for the process to be effective. We've all made mistakes- some are great, and some are small. Some of the pain may have been self-inflicted, maybe it was associated with bad relationships or trauma from your childhood. But once you forgive yourself from the guilt, shame, or things that happened to you beyond your control, then you've opened the door to FREEDOM!
Accept Your Imperfections
Seriously, Pooh Bear could really teach us a few lessons on being accepting of the things that we thought we didn't like about ourselves. Learning to welcome your imperfections means that they are no longer available for anyone to use against you. Being accepting of your flaws is a leap into the realm of courage and strength.
Update Your Community
The way you choose to love yourself is not for everybody, and everybody is not for you. Periodically, we should assess our relationships and purge those that generate negative energy. Social media is a great place to start the process. The primary focus is to surround yourself with positivity so that you will attract positivity.
Loving yourself is a choice. It's your choice to be bold, be strong, and to be YOU!
