Self love is a journey. A never ending journey with highs and lows with a no one size fits all timeline. Your journey is going to be different and that’s more than ok.
Society likes to put a timeline on everything humans do and self love is front and center lately. Self love, self care, body positivity etc is trending, which is overall good, however there is a repercussion for this. Just like every other trend, it’s easy to hop on the surface level and social media will only show the parts that get clicks. So let’s lightly unpack the deeper stuff.
Like any journey there is point A and point B. A starting point and a destination. In a self love journey everyone’s starting point is going to be very, very different. We need to remember that our destination might also (probably) will look different as well. There is a lot of pressure to reach a certain destination and even how fast we get there. This also results in forgetting about the HUGE chapter that is literally the journey, all the work between point A and point B. That’s really the good stuff.
We can’t get from our starting point to our destination without going through the middle, and in self love that could like a more neutral mindset. Expecting to get from negative or lack of self love to 100% authentic self love in one step isn’t realistic. But the pressure to do so is there. It’s toxic body positivity, it makes the journey too overwhelming to start. You can absolutely be a masterpiece & work in progress at the same time.
You are a work of art & art of any kind doesn’t happen over night. Natural art formations, architecture, simple + complex drawings, oil painting, relationships, food, skills etc…. all a form of art IMO. Each one takes times to build up and each one has different timelines. These timelines can be frustrating, no denying that, but in the end it really does work out. You will get out what you put in. Sorry to say, but yes work will be involved.
It will be a rollercoaster of good days & bad, but with that comes the opportunity for growth, it will be your choice what you do with it. You are a work of art in progress. Everyday is yours to mold. You are worthy to feel special. You deserve & owe it to yourself to respect your timeline. Look inward & honor your self love journey.
An amazing book that’s been a HUGE part of my journey is The Geode Theory by Teri Hofford. Teri is a body image & mindset educator + all around amazing human that someone that you should follow > @terihofford
