Do you love yourself?
Over the weekend, a friend (whom I always discuss characters, and horoscopes, and such, with) randomly told me that her problem was that she was trying too much to be some one people would like, or rather, not someone whom people dislike.
I then realised how much many people tried to be the kind of person that they think that the society accepts. Isn't it sad how people try so hard to fit into a mould. Or worst, have the wrong conception, and be the wrong kind of person that she think the world likes.
Suddenly, I feel, how important and strong self-love is.
self-love
noun
1. regard for one's own well-being and happiness.
2. the belief you hold that you are a valuable and worthy person. An example of self love is when you have a positive view of yourself and are confident in yourself and your place in the world.
My family brought me up with super a lot of self-love. It is in fact a wonder how I could stay humble, (or at least I hope I am). My Dad thinks he's God. He want things his way, and didn't care what others thought of him. He displayed super self-love for himself.
My Mom, she always encourage us. Even if the dress is ugly, she would say it's nice. That to me is self-love too... how we should love ourselves regardless.
My Brother, he is exactly like Dad, in his own kind of way. He does it more gracefully than Dad though. Dad is barbaric.
With these three person bringing me up, I grew up super loving myself. I in turn, (hope) that i displayed the same self-love to my younger sis. Which i think she learnt it too; as, though the littlest in the family, protected by all four of us, is also loving herself... earning her own keep, pampering herself with holidays and gifts.
I didn't "register" this fact, till talking about it with said friend recently. And with this realization, it kinda made me stronger and more confident. Suddenly, everything seem so small, so easy.
This topic, so wide... it's only a thin line between self-loving and being full of oneself.
Note to self: Don't ever be overconfident. Turns out, there is such a thing as too much love.
To read: What Self-Love Means: 20+ Ways to Be Good to Yourself By Banu Sekendur