self love: "As I am," is and will always be enough

I love myself enough to be honest about my shortcomings. I take responsibility for my choices. This is how growth occurs.

I love myself, therefore I strive to be the most free and actualized version of myself I can be.
I genuinely express my authentic self to the world. This is freedom.

You do not have to be perfect in order to be loved. Self love doesn't mean you've reached perfection and you see yourself as un-flawed. Self love is loving yourself in spite of the flaws. 

I've learned that I've tied my self worth into whether or not I am serving someone else. At times, I don't feel valuable unless I'm doing something for someone. Over time, I internalized the belief, "I add value to the lives of others by serving them. If I make sure their needs are met, they will love me."

While it is perfectly fine to want to serve the ones you love and to be giving and helpful, you should still realize that this is not the ONLY value you have. It is not the only reason you were created and why you are loved. I had to learn to let people love me for who I am, not just what I can do for them.

So who am I? I am a powerful being, bursting with light and creativity. The love I have for myself pours out toward others in everything I do.

Self love is an acceptance of your reflection. It is seeing yourself as you are, for what you are, and knowing whatever that looks like is enough. 

What do you tell yourself when you look in the mirror?

​Every time I write these words they become a taboo
Making sure my punctuation curve, every letter is true
Living my life in the margin and that metaphor was proof
I'm talking poetic justice, poetic justice
If I told you that a flower bloomed in a dark room, would you trust it?
I mean you need to hear this
Love is not just a verb, it's you looking in the mirror. - Kendrick Lamar

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self love affirmations...

• I am free to express myself as I truly am, because I love myself too much to act like anything I am not.
• I love myself too much to deny myself freedom. I leave situations that feel toxic.
• My accomplishments do not determine my value. My very existence is reason enough to be loved.
• I am worthy of love because of who I am, not because of what I can do for others. I do not need to be "useful" in order to be loved.
• I want who wants me. I am no longer trying to prove my worth to others.
• My value is not measured by whether or not a person desires me sexually or romantically.
• My happiness is not contingent on the approval of others.
• My existence is a miracle and I am here for a reason. I am whole and complete exactly as I am.

It is important to remember that when speaking to yourself and about yourself, the words you choose really matter. This is what makes speaking positive affirmations over your life such a powerful practice. When speaking positively to yourself and about yourself, you are teaching yourself who you are. You are telling yourself what you want to embody. You are training yourself on how to view you. Our world is only the perception we have of it. So, how you choose to perceive yourself will become real. 

Say affirmations like you mean them.
Say them until you believe them.
Say them until they shape your reality.
Repeat as necessary.

xoxo Bree Cherie