Name All the Things You Love
Where did you fall on the list? Were you even on it?
The first time I read this quote months ago, it almost took my breath away. It hit me with such truth, such heaviness, and a sadness I struggled to admit.
I hadn’t even landed on my list. Despite coaching and speaking on this topic. I too had fallen out of practice of loving myself. I’m a natural caretaker, one who tends to put others before herself. It’s why I do what I do! And I love it. However, I need to make sure I’m putting the oxygen mask on myself first. That I’m choosing me, making time for me, and walking my talk of coaching others to make time for themselves.
When we are naturally wired to care for others first, we must make it a practice and set intentions to love ourselves, to put ourselves on our own lists.
How Do We Learn to Put Ourselves on our List?
It takes intention. It is making a choice. And doing so repetitively so that it becomes a habit. A natural way of being.
“When a woman becomes her own best friend life is easier.”
―
I have struggled often and for years with putting myself first. I am still a work in progress in doing so. However, there are some tools and exercises I learned to incorporate in my day to day life, which have helped me.
It is easy to get caught up in our daily schedules working, parenting, partnering and so on. The ways in which I learned to schedule time for me may not work for everyone, but you may find some of these practices helpful in learning to make time for yourself! Here are a few of things I practice:
- Wake up earlier than everyone else to have some moments of reflection and meditation/prayer with a cup of coffee
- Set a reminder on my phone around lunch time to take 5 minutes for me (in case I snoozed through that earlier time I mentioned above) – I may use this time to walk, read, or just pull myself out of my daily routine to recenter myself
- Choose something I love doing (lifting weights) and make it a priority by scheduling an appointment with myself, for myself and I then set aside time every week for this
I don’t pretend any of the above is easy to do. Some weeks I’m better at making time for me and putting myself on my list than others. In the moments I struggle, I remind myself of the grace I deserve.
Learning to put yourself on your list of things you love isn’t an easy task. And it’ll take time. But I promise you, it isn’t selfish. And investing in you and loving yourself will manifest itself in those you love too.
You are worth it, beauty. It is time to add YOU to your list of things you love.
