WOMAN, LOVE THY SELF

I made a post on a topic Woman, Know Thy Self, this is a follow up on the post. Now that you have known a little bit more about yourself, the next step is to love yourself as you are, right now. Then look at your answers and tell your self some real truth about things you would like to change about yourself, you alone are able to change it and then love yourself some more.

Now when I talk about effecting changes in your life, I mean behavioural changes, that will bring about self improvement not physical changes.

It is not safe or advisable for you to wait to attain certain physical spec before you begin to love yourself. Love your body as it is now and If you feel you need to lose weight or have a low hair cut or grow a long hair, or have an acne free skin, do it because of yourself alone not in the hopes of getting anyone else to love you for those physical attributes. This is because we as human beings are subject to physical changes and we do ourselves a great disservice when we try to keep up to a loved one's physical attributes expectations of us. It is wrong and we deny ourselves the liberty of living in our TRUTH.

When you love yourself, it becomes easy to accept another person's love for you

It is important to love yourself to be able to love others. The Bible even attests to the fact that loving oneself is the greatest commandment. Mark 12 verse 31- Love your neighbour as yourself. So loving someone else more than you love yourself can be considered deceitful and a lie.

For instance, staying in an abusive relationship or marriage for the sake of children, family members or the thoughts of what people will say is a sin before God because it goes to show you love and put others first before your self.

Iyanla Vanzant made a statement in one of her Life class sessions with Oprah Winfrey and it just puts things to perspective for me - 'How you treat yourself is how you treat God, so you are putting God last when you put other people ahead of you because you are the representative of God in your life'
She went on to add - 'When you give to others to the degree that you sacrifice yourself, you make the other person a thief because they are stealing from you what you need and they don't even know it'

I hope this becomes an Aha moment for someone reading this today as it was for me when I first heard it.
So the excuses people give to justify staying in an abusive relationship is wrong. Love does not hurt, It liberates, it encourages peace of mind and wellbeing.

Love yourself without expectations

Love yourself enough to be able to take charge of your life

Love yourself enough to avoid putting yourself in precarious situations.

Love yourself enough to pursue your dream, to live the life you desire.

Love yourself enough to be content with what you have, knowing fully well that as long as you are alive, you can get what you want eventually.

Love yourself enough to walk away from toxic people and friendships.

Love yourself enough to be able to walk away from that relationship that threatens your sanity and life.

Love yourself enough to walk away from any riches or fame that puts your life at risk - Tina Turner is a case in point.

She had a choice of either staying in the abusive marriage with Iyke Turner or to walk away. She would have continued using excuses such as ; she worked her socks off to get them all the money they had at that time, bla bla bla but she walked away from it all - The financial security and fame. Tina Turner chose her sanity and wellbeing instead.

I am sure you have heard this popular statement  'Love makes the world go round' - It is true. This world will be a much better and safer place if we all as individuals come from a place of love and It is possible, we just have to start loving ourselves right now.

Choose Love, make that conscious decision right now.

Best Wishes
Bola Awe