TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023 = SELF CARE

 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023 - Self Care continued

Last Day of February 2023!!

 “Love your neighbor as yourself”. - You need to take care of yourself (or conversely - I need to love myself before I can love others.  I say “Love Wins” - and that prompts me to work on my self-love.

There is a concept of “self-actualization”, “imaging”, and “affirmations” that I try to use.

I believe that every word that comes out of my mouth is important.  If I speak negatively, I get negative feedback. If I say “I don’t feel good” - guess what I don’t feel good.  If I don’t feel good, but I say “I’ll be better in an hour” - I’m admitting that at that moment I don’t feel good, but that will pass.  

I found this link with some sample daily affirmations: 

https://www.usosm.com/employee/50-self-affirmations-to-help-you-stay-motivated-every-day/

I am one of a kind

I add value to the world

I am growing stronger every day

I am worthy of love

I love others

I believe in me

I can do it

I will do it

I am confident

I am beautiful

I am an awesome, loving woman

I am rising above thoughts of doubt and despair and thinking loving positive thoughts

I am a good writer

I love to write my daily blog

I love to take the time to write a quality blog

I love that my blog challenges me to think and write.

I don’t compare myself to others. The only person I compare myself to is the person I was yesterday. And as long as the person I am today is even the tiniest bit better than the person I was yesterday—I’m meeting my own definition of success.

Happiness is a choice - and I CHOOSE to be happy!

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)

Social scientists suggest saying affirmations loudly - maybe even in front of a mirror.  

In computing, we say GIGO - Garbage in, Garbage out.  If something reaches my ears, I take it in.  If I gladly accept it, I can grow.

(Side note - I try to avoid the negative.  I don’t let the “doom and gloom” folks get to me.  I avoid political rhetoric.  I know friends who watch Fox News for hours and while there are some good things, there are also a lot of negatives.  One note I got from a friend was “there are idiots running the government in Washington”.  That bothered me. There are a lot of people in Washington - a lot of GOOD people - running the Health and Human Services, Department of Defence, Department of the Treasury, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, and others.  Yes, a person may not agree with certain politicians - but I sincerely double they are “idiots” in the precise definition of that term. )

Last week I allowed myself to get so busy that I didn’t practice self-care as much as I needed to.  I wasted time - too many games, too much chasing less important goals.  I got caught up in my Duolingo German lessons.  Every week there is a “competition” - for three weeks in January, I was at the highest level (Diamond).  While it's nice to be learning a language and it challenges my brain to think, it doesn’t need to take up two hours a day!!  I don’t watch much television.  That tends to be a “brain drain” for me.  If there is something fun, interesting, and of value - good.  

*****

So, Karen - what do you do to promote love?  You seem to be “preaching” too much some days.  Yes, I use the words “Love one another”, “Love Wins”, and “Love transforms” - but they have to be more than just words.  How can I really LIVE love?  

For me, LOVE has to be deeply embedded in all that I do.  

And - that means I have to love myself (repeating for my sake)- I HAVE TO LOVE MYSELF.  What are my priorities?  I write this daily blog - it seems to be a priority.  It can take up to five hours to research and write.  My Saturday fiction writing can take up to 8 hours - a whole workday writing a five to eight-page story?  Really?  Is that a priority?  Last week I worked 15 hours - is that a priority?  Am I LOVING at my work?  (Yes, I think I am). 

Is my health a priority?  YES!!  If so, why aren’t I getting my walking and exercising in my schedule?  

Is my time with friends a priority?  Do I share the love with them?  (Or do I gossip).

*****

And … Karen - it all starts with believing in yourself, in self-care, in self-love.  Am I doing a good job of that?  And, if not, how do I restructure my life to be loving to myself and others?  

Later this week.

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © FEBRUARY 28,2023