The Art of Self-love
Appreciating ourselves.
Isha is an all-rounder. She excels in almost every field and everyone likes her. However, Isha still feels like she is a failure and that she is not doing enough.
Isha is struggling with recognizing her own efforts. She needs to find a way to acknowledge and appreciate herself.
Why should we teach children to appreciate themselves?
Self-reliance. While everyone has people to cheer them, it is important for a child to be able to appreciate themselves too. That way they don’t hunt for external validation and feel complete on their own.
How can we teach children to appreciate themselves?
Here is what we can tell them.
Celebrate yourself- Each time something happens that makes you feel happy, write it down on a piece of paper. Add that paper to a jar. Keep doing this for a year. At the end of the year, open the jar to celebrate how far you have come.
Future pep talk - There are moments where we feel proud of ourselves. It can be a very small thing that made us feel this way. Capture that moment in your diary. write a letter to yourself stating how you feel and remind your future self that if they ever feel lost, eventually they will find their way back.
Support System- Share your little joys with your family and friends. Check if you have people in your life who celebrate and encourage you too. That way if you ever feel worthless and down the dumps, you will always have someone to talk to.
Paint- Sometimes it’s difficult to express how we are feeling in words. In those times pick a color and just paint. See which color resonates with you, draw if you prefer. Create your happy place on a piece of paper. Hang it up somewhere you can see every day.
Self-love- Hugs are a great way to show appreciation for yourself. If you live alone, remember to pat your back and hug yourself. Stand in front of the mirror and say I love you no matter what. Be your own support system too.
Remember, expression and appreciation are healthy ways to release bottled-up thoughts. The more you express, the more you appreciate your existence.