We've all heard it — 'Love yourself.' But nobody tells you how. I didn't know how until I was 32. I always lived for others — for family, friends, society. And I forgot myself completely.
The Day I Broke Down
One day I sat in the bathroom and cried — for no reason. Or perhaps there were too many reasons — ones I had never given myself the time to look at. That day for the first time I asked myself — 'How am I? Really?' There was no answer. And that scared me.
The First Step — Giving Yourself Time
I started therapy. I felt ashamed at first — 'What will people think?' Then I understood that the people who think don't live my life. Slowly I recognized my own needs. I understood my likes and dislikes. And in that process I found myself.
Meera Verma, author"Self-love does not mean being selfish. It means being so full yourself — that there is still something left to give to others."
What Changed — Slowly
When I started accepting myself — my weaknesses and my strengths — relationships improved. Work became enjoyable. The fear of others' opinions diminished. None of this happened in a day. But it happened. And now I know — I am my own best friend.
Loving yourself is a journey — not a destination. Every day you know yourself a little more, accept yourself a little more. And that is enough.
