Take Inventory

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your overall love for yourself in this moment?

Your answer is the first number that came to mind. If it was a 10, and you were truly honest with yourself, awesome! Keep doing what you are doing. If you didn’t give yourself a 10, take a closer look and check which aspects of your self and life need most attention. And remind yourself that we are all a work in progress.

I suggest that you consider when you are truly loving yourself, and when you are are not. You can simply ask yourself the questions I raise here, or you could rate your self-love for each bullet point:

• The relationships you surround yourself with – are they mostly enriching or draining your life? If they are draining it, maybe consider doing something about it. – Expressing your needs and setting boundaries are key self-love practices that could start shifting those relationships.
• Your body – are you nourishing it with healthy eating habits? Are you exercising? Are you taking good care of it? Are you sleeping enough? Are you drinking plenty of water? – There are always small changes you can implement each day, in case you feel the need to shift it.
• Your spiritual practices – how often are you connecting with your heart, meditating, focusing on breathing, believing in yourself, being mindful, staying quiet, and connecting with others? – Many times people are not dedicating themselves to it, because they say there is no time, even though deep down they know that they could be more efficient and intuitive, if they did practice it.
• Feelings - How are you connecting with your feelings, and are you allowing yourself to feel them?  Are there any feelings that you avoid? – Be honest with yourself, connect with and really feel the feelings that come up for you now.
• Your creativity – how are you expressing yourself creatively? Is it fulfilling your needs? Does it make your heart sing, or do you need to add more creativity into your daily routine? – Make a list of how you can add more creativity to your life.
• Joy and fun – how do you add joy and fun into your life? How often can you say that you are joyfully living your life? – If not often, connect with your heart space, and ask: what would bring you joy in this moment? If it’s something you can make happen now, go for it. Otherwise, take a moment to mark your calendar and do it then.
• Loneliness and Connection – are you feeling a connection with your significant other, with those around you and with yourself? Or are you feeling lonely? – When you are honest with yourself about where you are, you can start opening yourself up, and changes will occur.
• Your home and your office – how happy are you with your surroundings? Do you need new furniture? Do you need to move things around? Do you need to de-clutter? – Could you dedicate some time each day to make the changes you need, to create an ambiance that is loving and nurturing?
• Your business/job/career – is it providing you with the financial, mental, and spiritual fulfillment you would like? – You could take a closer look, and figure out which aspects of it are in alignment with your deepest desires, and which ones aren’t. Seeking help from a mentor or coach could make a difference. You can learn more about working with me as your coach here.
• Love – I almost forgot this one! ; ) Are you feeling loved by yourself and by others? If you aren’t, there is no better time than now to start making changes, and taking steps to deepen the love you feel for yourself, and to allow love to come in from others as well. – Consider practicing at least one of the self-love suggestions per day, and ask for help when you feel stuck.

Were you able to identify any aspects of your life that need extra attention? Make sure to show compassion towards yourself, and allow yourself to be where you are. If it resonates, choose which aspect of your self-love journey needs the most attention, and then commit to taking small steps to change it.

In case you are wondering, I gave myself a 7 at first, but in looking closely to specific areas, some numbers were lower and some were higher. There is always work to do, feelings to be felt, energies to shift, clutter to let go of, and belief systems to be released. It is an ongoing process.

Namaste,

Elisa