Loving yourself

Not in a dirty way. But truly loving who you are, is a liberating thing. Truly liking the person you are evaporates so many fears.

Worrying about what you look like no longer grips you with panic before you walk out the door. Sure, you might give yourself the once-over in the mirror before you step out but you will no longer fret about every facet of your outfit.

You will take care of your body rather than punish it. Gym becomes a sanctuary rather than a life sentence. You eat well not to deprive yourself of treats but to fuel your body with nourishing food.

You will make better decisions. No longer at the whim of everyone else, when you love yourself you will make decisions with clarity and better judgment.

When you love yourself you will be better able to care for others. Your cup will be empty and you will be able to pour the excess into those around you.

When you love yourself you don't flaunt your body. You cherish it.

Loving yourself means that you know what your body needs. You will rest when you need to.

When you like the person you are, you are not looking to others for approval. You do not need the permission of other people to follow your heart; it becomes second nature.

When you love yourself you are not looking for the next win to boost your mood. You will have a deep sense of contentment that you carry around with you wherever you go.

When you love yourself you realize that, if others don't love you as much as you love yourself you do not need them in your life. You will not stand for people who mistreat you. You will not let people take advantage of you. Rather, you will defend yourself. You become your own protector. When you love yourself you will make sure that you are looked after and treated with respect. For you will not tolerate those who do not take you seriously.

When you love yourself, you become peaceful not opinionated for you have a solid basis. Your foundation is strong enough to know that there is no need to try to convert others to your way of thinking. While you might educate them on matters you think important if requested, you know when to keep your mouth shut because when you love yourself you understand how wonderful it feels. When you love yourself you don't want to impose pain on anyone else. When you love yourself you truly want those around you to be happy and will do whatever you can to aid them in their pursuit (but you won't risk your happiness to achieve that).