To love oneself is truly a difficult challenge for many differing reasons. We may have been brought up to feel less than, unworthy or in desperate need of validation from a parent who was not comforting or sometimes unavailable to you. The role of family has a lot of influence as to who you are and present yourself to be in your current environment.
To conquer these limiting beliefs is a lifelong challenge that will always haunt you in some way. However if you are willing to do the work on your perceptions of self you can change your inner dialogue with yourself. When you change the way you see yourself it also changes the way you view others in your life or those about to enter.
If you want to know where you are in life and how you are presenting yourself then you need to look at the people who surround you. What are their personalities like? What is going on in their lives? Is it a reflection of what is going on in yours? Is there a common trait with your friends, social circle or the type of people that strike up a conversation with you? Take the time to reflect on who they are and you will see some similarities within yourself. We all attract people who are relatable to us. Their bad traits somehow also show up in our own personalities as well. If you truly look within yourself you will be faced with the hard truth about you.
Most people are afraid to take a look at themselves and acknowledge all the wonderful things that they have accomplished because of this need to compare themselves to others or feeling like they have not lived up to their parents’ expectations. However, we are all individuals in this life and that is why we have different hair, eyes, and body shape etc. We come with our own thoughts and beliefs and interests that differ from others.
We are all individual beings with a life to live that is unique from others. We all have something to give, it may even be that thing that you think is quirky that is what makes you the best friend, co-worker, or boss. Embrace your uniqueness and start to see yourself as an individual and enjoy the good and bad side of your personality. If you are not harming yourself or others than be true to yourself and live your most authentic life that embraces who you are and loves life to the fullest.
Joanne Robinson
