Self-Love

Definition: regard for one’s own well-being and happiness

Picture made by myself through canva.com

It is fair to say that as humans we are constantly seeking validation from others, whether it be from our families, our boss at work, friends etc. Now before we get into this I need to quickly eliminate any misconceptions on the idea of ‘self-love’ in relation to other terms such as egotism or narcissism. Although they are all synonyms to the other, the idea of egotism and narcissism is that you have an excessive obsession with yourself - which is not an idea that I agree with.
For many years I have wondered why it was imperative that I am told my worth before the realisation or acceptance of its existence. Simple example: You are wearing an amazing outfit, but because nobody has acknowledged or commented on how much you ‘slayed’, you have now concluded your outfit is trash; because apparently if people do not say it then it must not be true?  Listen! Sometimes people cannot be bothered to open their mouth to give you credit. They might be thinking it but they may just not say it. In relation to my chosen example: you wore the outfit, you saw yourself in the mirror, and you liked it enough to wear it out. That is good enough.
I know how discouraging it can be when you are trying to achieve or may have already achieved something and it seems no one can see you. The most important thing is that God can see you, and He knows your potential and actuality. So, you must also open your eyes and regard yourself. If anyone else wants to join, that’s fantastic. However, in times when there is no one joining your boat, that is not a time to also try to get off your boat. It’s your own boat for goodness sake! OK, forget this boat story. The point is, just because others do not see or acknowledge your hard work does not make it irrelevant. You are relevant and you better start believing it!