Mindset is everything. It really is. This is something we all know, but when the time comes to take control of our own attitudes, things can get a bit tricky. One of the most important factors in gaining control over the way you feel about both yourself and others is self-love.
self-loveˈˌself ˈləv/noun
regard for one’s own well-being and happiness (chiefly considered as a desirable rather than narcissistic characteristic).
Now, that definition seems pretty straightforward. Taking care of yourself… easy enough, right? For some people, maybe, but for most, it is hard to maintain this mindset when things take a turn.
If high school has taught me anything, it is that you cannot control the people around you… the only thing you truly have control over is yourself. Once you take the step to practice self-love, your attitude (one that is hopefully flooded with positive energy) has a way of influencing the people around you. Think of it like this… it’s hard to spread love and make other people happy when you are not truly content with yourself.
All that said, there can be a fine line between self-love and narcissism. Self-love isn’t about putting yourself on a pedestal or looking down on everyone else. It’s about loving your best qualities while being able to acknowledge the areas that could benefit from improvement. It’s about finding the good in yourself, capturing it and being able to support others as they go through the same process.
So, we can agree that self-love is pretty important… now what? Combine this concept with mental health days. Summer provides the perfect opportunity to put aside some time to prioritize your well-being. Whether that entails listening to your favorite music, taking yourself out on a coffee date, or watching the sunset (or sunrise if you have your life together to that degree), be sure to make time for yourself… even if life tends to make that a difficult task.
Make a list of some things you want to improve on, but acknowledge all the bad-ass stuff you’ve done. It’s easy to compare ourselves to others, especially when the tailored world of social media exists, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with admiring the good in ourselves… and others.
This isn’t one-sided. Here’s my list!
- Make more space for time with family… they’re pretty important.
- Make a point to speak up more… whether it’s to spread positivity, squash negativity or just get involved.
- Give back to the community. Finding volunteer opportunities is easier than you’d think. It’s a great way to feel like you’re helping… and who doesn’t like that?
- Accept that some people may have different views and judge you based on yours. That’s just life, and the nature of people isn’t going to change anytime soon. Juxtapositions are what make life interesting.
- Keep working hard but realize that life is about having fun, too. As long as you do your best, things *should* work out just fine.
Like Change in Your Pocket 