Wander Girl

My goodness friends, getting a job in the writing profession is a dream come true, but it leaves me quite unmotivated to keep up on my own content after a full day of creating, but I’m trying to be better.

This is the post you’ve all be waiting for without even knowing it…. I’m in love.  I have finally come to the realization that I have found the one…

For those that know me you already think this is a trick.  I’m not dating anyone, I don’t have a new puppy… but here’s the secret. I’ve finally discovered how to love myself.

News flash, having a happy-ish life with decent humans around you doesn’t mean you love yourself.  It means you are okay with where you’re at.  In the past few weeks I’ve discovered a different kind of love that exists. Genuine love for yourself.

Jesus councils us to love our neighbors as “ourselves”. This means you have to infact love who you are.

So I evaluated myself. 

1. Do I love my body? This has long been my major hold- up. I love that I have a body.  I don’t love the issues it has and how hard it is to work with it at times… but as I have genuinely examined it, and it’s extra weight  I recognize I kind of love my body.  I appreciate that it gives me a goal to work towards.  I like that it’s strong enough to swim, get me up mountains, take me on a bikeride and get me out of the house and to work.

2.  Do I love the way I communicate?  Yes, I am more of a written word kind of girl. So, for me a handwritten letter or penned thank you note is a treasure.  I have much to work on verbally, but communicating well in the written word, which is becoming a lost art is my specialty and I love that about me.

3. Do I love my relationships?  This is an odd one to consider when it comes to loving yourself, but I found that when I have relationships that boost instead of drag down it changes your feelings about yourself.  I have decided not to let people into my life who drag me down or put me down or thrive in an environment of negativity and doubt.  I am cultivating relationships of hope, positivity, gratitude and praise. I have often been told I make friends easily.

4. Do I love my work ethic? I have always been a workhorse. I do not thrive in environments that are stagnant.  I don’t belive I’ve ever received such high praise on work that I’ve done as I have in my new job.  When people around you are happy and grateful for your contributions it makes you want to give more and I do.

5. Do I love my spirituality and relationship with God? Honestly right now I feel it’s lacking but it’s making me work harder to return to where I want to be, so in some ways I’ve grown closer to Him.

6. Do I love my abilities? God gave us talents to develop while on the earth.  I love that I have music, writing and empathy as some of mine. I also have developed a love for cooking, reading, swimming, hiking, exercising, serving and even teaching.

All in all I love that I’m working in my dream job. I love that I’m creating relationships that will last through the ages. I love that I am drawing closer to the savior through my struggle.  I love that I am creating an environment to eat healthy  foods, participate in healthy activities and creating a  life that I love. 

If your struggling with any of the same things I have struggled with through the years, do your best to love yourself anyway.   Find 1 thing you like about yourself, create positive affirmations, ask friends to asses your strengths and don’t be afraid to express yourself to others in ways that aren’t conventional.