Welcome to the blog, Julia Ferra! She shares from her own life practical wisdom on how to build a life of self-love. I guarantee you will walk away with some exercises you can do today to experience a greater love for yourself! Read on and be empowered.
In my world, self-love is defined as loving yourself the way you desire to feel loved. After all, you are the person who can love yourself best. You know what makes your heart flutter versus what doesn’t; you know how you need to be loved to feel loved. I want to highlight five major aspects of self-love that I’ve realized in this wild journey I have embarked on to love myself more.
One: practicing self-love may look a bit differently to each of us. I strongly believe in practicing the art of “treating yourself” (cue the Parks and Recreation GIFs of Donna and Tom saying “treat yo self”). This is my favorite way to show myself love. I have never been one to shop in expensive stores, so I often treat myself by buying Mitchell’s ice cream and enjoying a Netflix marathon. Other ways to “treat yourself” could be taking a day to enjoy some tea and a good book, pampering yourself in some way or going on a long, quiet drive by yourself.
Two: showing ourselves kindness is another way to practice self-love. “Kind words are like honey- sweet to the soul and healthy for the body,” Proverbs 16:24 NLT. In our walks as humans, we often find ourselves on what is known as the struggle bus. We stumble, face uncertainty and stress, and have our off days. Where some may beat themselves up and say hurtful words, practicing self-love in these contexts would look like telling yourself “it’s okay, I can always try again tomorrow.”
After all, is that not what life is all about? God has given us the amazing gift of second chances, which sometimes can look more like third, fourth or fifth chances. God shows us grace and allows us to keep figuring out what we need to do to get things right. We experience hardship in life for a reason – growth. God doesn’t want to live our lives for us. He wants to guide us and give us the opportunities to choose our next steps so we can become well-rounded individuals. He wants to have a relationship with you – not a puppet.
Three: do something that sets your soul on fire. This can be difficult as some worry about finances and what can provide them the most stability, while others don’t exactly know what they are passionate about. I view myself as one of the lucky ones who had opportunities to figure out what I was most passionate about right after high school. Sometimes your passion may not be in a job, and that’s okay. What you do on a daily basis to live and show Jesus does not have to be in a workplace setting. Maybe you want to work somewhere that affords you the opportunity to tutor inner-city children on the weekends. If your goal is to show Jesus wherever you’re at, then you’re on the right path.
Ask yourself these two questions: what do I enjoy doing and what do I get fulfillment from? For me, I enjoyed studying something called urban affairs. I analyzed the functionality of cities and how to operate them in an efficient and sustainable manner. In my education, I learned I could focus on social aspects of urban affairs – the urban and social issues we see in our communities. I get so much fulfillment from learning about these issues and figuring out solutions I can implement in my career.
Another part of doing what sets your soul on fire is bringing Jesus to the table. I have found that the best way to show Jesus to others is through love. I adore showing people who don’t know Jesus the unconditional love that He shows me. I love being that bridge for them.
Four: it’s okay to choose yourself first. This aspect relates a ton to the ones above. You can’t give to others from emptiness. So, it is vital to take some time to recharge. How can you expect to love yourself when you don’t take the time to do so? I often notice when I’m in a place of lack. I become easily irritated and let doubt and discouragement rule my thoughts. This ends up exhausting me mentally and I find if I don’t talk it out to God, I don’t allow myself the time to heal.
“On days like this, He will always be the one who untangles every worry and gives your weary soul the rest it desperately needs,” – Morgan Harper Nichols
Rest is biblical – “The Lord replied, ‘I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest – everything will be fine for you,’” Exodus 33:14 NLT. As Christians, we often face opposition – both in the spiritual and natural realms. Putting ourselves first by saying “I need this one thing to function,” whatever that thing may be, allows us to remember Jesus and His abundance of strength in the difficult times.
However, with time viagra online consultation and the outcry over spamming the more professional marketers decided to follow more ethical practices. order cialis check out address So, take some time and make your decision yourself in spite of listening others’. He or she will point out at cialis cheap these basic things: A trauma hospital should provide excellent facilities for fracture repair and its treatment. The discount on cialis effectiveness of the Tongkat Ali extract can be protective against cancer. Five: Confidence is key. Knowing your identity and living from that allows you to display who you truly are. Sometimes you may struggle, and on those days, you will not show the absolute best version of yourself, but there is grace in that. I was recently irritated with the fact that God didn’t call me on an easier path – I know, it sounds silly. I cut complaining out of my life years ago, but I so easily picked it back up and found myself in a state of ungratefulness. I had to turn on Rend Collective and channel the joy of the Lord (the true fans will get this) to defeat the off-day I was having.
Being confident in your identity and who God made you to be is not an ‘easy’ task. I have found through living in confidence and being who I had always aspired to be, it is easier to love myself more. Self-love is an important and attainable art – God loves when you delight in His creation!
JULIA FERRA is a daughter of the King and in love with adventure. She always stays curious and loves both the exotic and simple things in life. Julia’s passion is to see people equipped, encouraged, with their voices heard. She can be best defined by her three loves: Jesus, coffee, and chocolate! Read her blog here.
P.S. Looking for a study to build your self-love? Check out ‘Hello Love: Encounters to Redeeming Self-Love!’ An honest and vulnerable 6-session study that will guide you in encountering true love –> Check it out for yourself!