Love Yourself Challenge

Valentine's Day is 10 days away.  You can buy into the commercialism that it is, and maybe get disappointed by your better half's lack of romantic ability.  Or maybe become bitter about the fact that you have nobody to celebrate with.  OR you can throw all your expectations away and just show yourself some love.

I think that self-love isn't easy for a lot of women.  There are those who have been too busy taking care of others their whole lives and just don't have time to even think about themselves.  There are those who have repeatedly told they are unworthy and have come to believe this is true.  This causes these women to hate themselves.  There are also those who have been told that loving yourself is being selfish.  And then we have those on the other end of the spectrum that are border-line narcissistic.  I am in no way advocating selfishness or narcissism.  What I am saying is that need to be able to love ourselves.  We need to stop feeling guilty about taking time for ourselves.  There is a healthy balance between loving ourselves and STILL loving and caring for others.  This healthy balance comes when we see ourselves as God sees us.  In fact, I think that when we have a healthy love for ourselves, we can love and care for others even better.

Last week, in my Hope Prevails Bible Study group, we dug into Scripture to remind us how God sees us.  Here are some I would like to share with you to help you with this challenge:

You are beautiful. (Psalm 45:11)

You are loved. (Jeremiah 31:3)

You are the apple of His eye. (Zechariah 2:8)

You are holy and dearly loved. (Colossians 3:12).

You are valuable. (Matthew 6:26). 

If the God who created this amazing and complex universe loves you, how can you not love yourself?  So, I'd like to invite you to a Love Yourself Challenge. 

Each day, for the next 10 days leading up to Valentine's Day, you will take a few minutes celebrating YOU.   Some of these may seem like simple activities, but if you're like me, you don't take the time for yourself. There’s laundry to be done. Cupcakes to be baked. Kids to be driven.  You know how it goes... For the ones that ask you to list or write something, you can share it on social media (#loveyourselfchallenge) or write it in your journal.This isn't meant to stress you out but to help you take some time to appreciate and love yourself. 

Day One: List at least 5 things you like about yourself.  Don't focus only your external features, but both your internal and external qualities.

Day Two: What is one thing you have to forgive yourself for?  Write yourself a letter of forgiveness.

Day Three: Take a photo of yourself laughing. Bonus: Post it on social media without doing a retake.

Day Four: What is one thing that makes you unique?

Day Five: It's FRIDAY!! Pamper yourself.  Get a mani/pedi and take a long bubble bath.  OR, if that isn't in your budget, but a new nail polish color.  At home, take a long bubble bath and give yourself a mani/pedi. 

Day Six:  ENJOY a cup of coffee or tea. REALLY sit down and savor that cup.

Day Seven: Create a playlist of your favorite songs.

Day Eight: Draw a heart on our wrist to remind yourself you are loved.

Day Nine: Take a photo of something that brings you joy.

Day Ten:  Whether you have Valentine or not, get dressed up with your favorite outfit. Write yourself a love letter.

So, will you join me in this challenge?  

<3,

Marie