The Veritas Newsletter

Exploring Self Love

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by

Netsai Gava
in

Netsai Gava is the author of the book ‘Bringing my 100%’

Self-love is a vital aspect of personal growth and development. It involves accepting and appreciating oneself, flaws and all, and taking care of one’s emotional, mental, and physical well-being.


Why is self-love important?

  • Helps build confidence and self-esteem
  • Allows for healthy relationships with others
  • Increases resilience and self-acceptance
  • Improves mental health and well-being
  • Enhances self-awareness and personal growth
    Remember, self-love is not selfish. It’s essential to prioritize your own well-being and happiness.
    What are some ways to practice self-love?
  • Self-care activities (exercise, hobbies)
  • Positive self-talk and affirmations
  • Setting boundaries and prioritizing needs
  • Self-reflection and journaling
  • Indulging in activities that bring joy and happiness

By embracing self-love, you’ll cultivate a more compassionate and loving relationship with yourself. Remember, you are worthy of love and care – and that starts with yourself! Having individual self-love is crucial to avoid being toxic in relationships and fostering healthy connections. Here’s why:

  1. Self-awareness: Self-love allows you to understand your own emotions, needs, and boundaries. This self-awareness helps you communicate effectively and avoid unconsciously projecting your own insecurities onto others.
  2. Emotional regulation: When you love and accept yourself, you’re better equipped to manage your emotions. This reduces the likelihood of taking out your emotions on others or expecting them to fill your emotional voids.
  3. Healthy boundaries: Self-love encourages you to prioritize your own needs and set boundaries. This helps prevent over-dependencies, co-dependencies, and exploitative dynamics in relationships.
  4. Empathy and compassion: When you practice self-love, you’re more likely to extend empathy and compassion to others. You’ll be less critical and more understanding, leading to more positive interactions.
  5. Wholeness: Self-love helps you become a whole and complete individual. You won’t rely on others to complete you or validate your worth, reducing the risk of toxic behaviors stemming from insecurities.

By cultivating self-love, you’ll develop a strong sense of self-worth, self-acceptance, and emotional resilience. This sets the foundation for healthier, more fulfilling relationships and helps you avoid perpetuating toxic patterns.

Comments

2 responses to “Exploring Self Love”

  1. Portia Tipei Avatar
    Portia Tipei

    Good motivation for all. Now tell me how do you balance being humble and self esteem and confidence. Sometimes when you are confident and have a high self esteem, some people may say you are not humble. I have experienced this in life a lot of times.

    Reply
    1. Netsai Gava Avatar
      Netsai Gava

      Thanks for your question Portia

      Balancing humility and self-esteem/confidence can be a delicate matter. It’s true that being confident and having high self-esteem can sometimes be misinterpreted as a lack of humility. Here are some thoughts on how to strike a balance:

      1. Self-awareness: Recognize your strengths and accomplishments, but also acknowledge your weaknesses and areas for growth. This self-awareness helps you stay grounded and humble.

      2. Gratitude: Practice gratitude by acknowledging the support and opportunities you’ve received from others. This helps you stay humble and appreciative.

      3. Empathy: Put yourself in others’ shoes and try to understand their perspectives. This empathy helps you stay humble and open-minded.

      4. Humility in success: When you achieve success, acknowledge the role of luck, timing, and support from others. This helps you stay humble and recognize that success is not solely due to your individual efforts.

      5. Confidence without arrogance: Express your confidence without coming across as arrogant or superior. Use phrases like “I’m proud of my work” instead of “I’m the best.”

      6. Vulnerability: Share your struggles and vulnerabilities with trusted individuals. This helps you stay humble and builds deeper connections with others.

      7. Learn from criticism: When faced with criticism, listen and learn from it. This shows that you value others’ opinions and are willing to grow.

      8. Self-reflection: Regularly reflect on your actions and attitudes. Ask yourself if you’re coming across as confident or arrogant, and make adjustments as needed.

      9. Surround yourself with humble people: Being around people who embody humility can inspire and encourage you to do the same.

      10. Be mindful: Stay present and mindful in your interactions with others. This helps you stay focused on the moment and avoid coming across as superior or arrogant.

      Remember, balancing humility and self-esteem/confidence is a continuous process. By being aware of these factors, you can cultivate a healthy balance that allows you to be confident and humble at the same time.

      Reply

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