When I began my first blog - Happily Ever Kate - I came up with this 5 day challenge & I did not want it to get lost in the interwebs, so I'm going to share it here...
Each day consists of a step to heal the relationship you have with yourself and give you something to DO, THINK, or FEEL.
If you are going to post about it on social media, use the hashtag #inlovewithme to inspire others on the same journey.
Feel free to pin, steal, whatever with the photos. I want as many as possible to start to develop a healthy relationship with themselves this February!
Day 1 ❥ Find Your Beauty ❥
Day 1 is about truly looking at yourself and finding that real beauty. How many times have you looked in the mirror and picked yourself apart
"Ugh my thighs, my belly, my {insert undesired bodypart}"
I'm having flashbacks to the scene in Mean Girls.
Stop it! Stop focusing on what you perceive as negatives!
Cady had no concept of doing such a thing - this awful habit is a learned behavior, as the Plastics taught her and as we have unfortunately taught ourselves. But, you can un-learn this behavior {although it will take more than one day...let's learn how!}
First, stop focusing on individual body parts. Instead, I want you to look in the mirror and see yourself as the whole person you are.
Appreciate what you body does for you everyday. Find what you love and respect about yourself. Know how beautiful you really are. Let your inner beauty shine through you.
Are you having trouble with this?
Then imagine looking at yourself through the eyes of your loved one - your spouse/significant other, your parent, your family, your friends. They unconditionally love you - what do they see? Let that be your focus and let it resonate with you. Trust and BELIEVE in those thoughts and carry them with you throughout the day.
Practice this every morning before you get ready. Teach yourself to find the GOOD in YOU because that beauty is there waiting to be appreciated!
Day 2 ❥ Self-Affirmation ❥
Affirmation: Declaring something to be true.
Imagine how much better you could feel in your day if you affirmed a belief about yourself all day long. Positive thoughts go a long way, especially when you are empowering yourself.
As yesterday, this is probably not natural or something you are used to doing, so let's start small.
Pick one self-affirmation for the entire day.
When you look in that mirror to find your beauty throughout the day, repeat the affirmation to yourself. Here are some examples:
"I accept my uniqueness." There is no competition and no comparison, for we are all different and meant to be that way. I am special and unique. I love myself.
"I release all criticism." I only give out that which I wish to receive in return. My love and acceptance of others is mirrored to me in every moment.
"All my relationships are harmonious." When we create harmony in our minds and hearts, we will find it in our lives. The inner creates the outer. Always.
"I open new doors to life." I rejoice in what I have, and I know that fresh new experiences are always ahead. I greet the new with open arms. I trust life to be wonderful.
"I am worth loving." I do not have to earn love. I am lovable because I exist. Others reflect the love I have for myself.
Need some more ideas?
I am obsessed with quotes, affirmations, inspirations...whatever you want to call them!
I have downloaded the app called "Power Thought Cards - Louise Hay" to my iPhone. There are actual cards you can also purchase from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc. These are the quotes you see above. They have a quote on one side and a longer description on the other.
"These affirmation cards help you find your inner strength and guidance. Each vibrant card contains a powerful affirmation on one side and a visualization on the other to enlighten, inspire, and bring joy to your life."
Day 3 ❥ Be Strong ❥
Get moving! Have you heard the new (and overdo) mantra: STRONG is the new Skinny.
We are women. We are all built differently, but beautifully.
If you are in a position right now where you may not "love" what you look like, then let's do something about it!
Empower yourself. Take control. Seek to be better.
Today's advice, do one thing everyday that makes you feel strong.
Do one thing everyday that makes you appreciate your body.
To some, it may be on a yoga mat, some may go to kickboxing class, others may hit the weight room, and you may put on music and dance.
It could be the mental game of ONE more rep than yesterday or adding ONE more pound to your weight. It is an individual unique experience and that is what makes it so much more special.
Fall in love with your body NOT because of how you look, but because of HOW YOU FEEL.
Day 4 ❥ Treat Yourself ❥
What happens when you get busy and are stressed out?
Self-care and YOUR needs quickly fall to the bottom of the list. But we can't accept this. When you take care of yourself, everything else will start to fall into place.
Treating yourself does not have to mean that you have to spend money (although a mani/pedi, new makeup, or a fun shopping trip could do the trick!).
Give yourself permission to watch TV, read a book, flip through a magazine, listen to your favorite playlist, paint your nails, take a bubble bath, call your girlfriends, take a walk... did you see those first three words?
GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION.
That means you do NOT feel guilty for doing whatever you choose to do for yourself.
You are going to consciously make the decision to take the TIME for yourself instead of whatever else you could be doing and that is OKAY.
Think about it, time is really the best gift you can give someone because it is precious and limited. You can never get time back. Make yourself a priority.
Give yourself the gift of your time.
Day 5 ❥ List What You Love ❥
Compile a list of what you love about yourself. Make it anything and everything!
Examples?
I love my legs.
I love my hair.
I love my kind and giving heart.
I love that I am a good friend.
I love my competitiveness.
I love my creativity.
Keep this list somewhere where you can refer to it often: Notes on your phone or Sticky Notes on your computer, a notebook by your bed to refer to at night and in the morning, the background of your phone or tech device, an email draft you can pull up in the middle of the day...and come back to EDIT it often!
This is a confidence booster and when you are feeling down in the dumps can remind you what is unique and special about YOU. ❥
You may also want to pick your favorite thing (or two) and write them on a post-it and stick it on your bathroom mirror. This way, when you are finding your beauty in the morning and repeating your daily affirmation for the day, you have a reminder of what you love about yourself as well : )
Perhaps you have picked up on it, but the underlying theme has really been about changing the conversation you have with yourself.
You will accept the love you think you deserve...so you better love yourself first or you will find yourself in a situation that will make you unhappy and you will never quite feel like yourself.
One final challenge: when you say something negative to yourself, you must follow it up with {TWO} positive. Pull from your master list above if you have too!
I'm so glad you played along with my little challenge. I hope this has helped you and I hope you refer back often...maybe even week after week until it becomes habit!
If you enjoyed this challenge and you want to dive deeper into self-love and what that can look like your daily life, along with treating your body with respect and honor... check out my 28-day Mindfull Makeover Program!
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