The person I am becoming and how I present my being within the world is constantly changing. But these other self-care practices go out the window when I’m disconnected from myself, when I haven’t been checking in with myself on a regular basis. This writing practice is deepened by walking, running, wild swimming and eating consciously. Journal Collage created by Sheree Angela Matthews I’m connecting with myself on the deepest of levels or even shallowest of levels when I provide the time and space to have this daily inner conversation. Each day I show up by writing out how I’m feeling, what I’m thinking, dreaming, stressing. Every day I have to work out on the page. I call it my Morning Pages (thanks to Julia Cameron) or simply journaling. My practice to ward against this happening too often is to meditate on the page. It gets tired, disheartened, distressed, and frustrated. It’s a constant practice and battle to keep my mind in the zone – focused and motivated. It doesn’t matter how much I want to do something: go for a run, eat healthily, go to a yoga class if my mind isn’t into it, it ain’t happening. It affects our thinking, feelings, actions and behaviors. The mind is a powerful tool if we use it as such. What actions demonstrate the self-care you provide to your mind, body and soul? It’s about praising myself, as well as chastising myself, but still being able to believe in myself, always. It means cutting myself some slack if I’m having a bad day. Acknowledging my fears, mistakes, doubts and struggles, and sitting with them (not denying them) means loving myself enough as I am: the ‘good’, the ‘bad’ and the ‘ugly’. It will be messy and I won’t do things perfectly. I accept that within life, as I move forward attempting to become the best version of me, there will be difficulties and struggles. Loving myself first does mean changing my narrative, changing the stories I have been telling myself and living by. ![]() It means not taking on anyone else’s hang-ups while at the same time dealing with my own. ![]() It is about being open and vulnerable, and growing in strength by giving and receiving. ![]() ![]() It’s about getting out of my own way to allow the love that I hold within to flow through me, to flow through my heart, body, mind and soul for myself, for others, and for the world at large. I am aware of the difference between self-hate and self-sabotage in comparison to self-love, and I don’t want to go back. Now, I’m on the right path of self-love and there’s no way I can get off. There is not an end product, no finished version of me to love. Through this I am aware of the woman I am becoming. Loving myself is becoming more aware of my thoughts, my feelings, my behaviors and actions. Loving myself is a practice, a daily practice, a moment by moment practice mixed with a lot of patience and self-compassion. This week’s Phoenix is Sheree: How do you love yourself first? What does that mean to you? The questions are meant to “shed light” on various ways our featured Phoenixes are making self-care and intentional living a priority. We invite women to tell their LYFF stories to inspire and empower others to also fiercely demonstrate self-love in action. Love Yourself First! Friday (LYFF) is part of The PRC’s Shed Lightseries collection.
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