You guys, I am on a journey.
The journey to learn how to fiercely love myself.
Wow, that sounds like a selfish endeavor, does it not?
But hear me out.
I am no stranger to the concept of love. I love deeply, I love fiercely, I love with all I have and practice loyalty to a fault, and I have relationships – romantic and platonic – to show for it. Some of which would have failed, no doubt, if I hadn’t loved so fiercely and relentlessly, eager to make it work. People know I am a giver. I give and give and give until there is nothing left to give.
But when it comes to giving a bit of this love to myself, I fail big time. This whole “self-love idea” is a strange concept to me, really. I am not sure what conditioned me to think that way, but other people and their feelings have always – sometimes consciously, but mostly unconsciously – taken precedence over mine. It’s not that I think one shouldn’t love oneself, in fact, I absolutely think one should, but the theoretical idea of it and putting it into practice by tending to your own needs and yes, sometimes putting yourself first is a hard one for me to grasp. I am a pro in talking others into taking care of themselves (and talking them into letting me help with that) and putting themselves first, but when it comes to practicing this same self care on myself, for one strange reason or another, I feel selfish. It doesn’t mean that I won’t do things for myself sometimes, but when there is something or someone else to tend to, I will always take care of their needs first. And there I am, putting myself on the backseat again. It’s a very familiar pattern.
For a few months, I’ve been reading Stratejoy and have been enjoying the inspiration and encouragement of blog posts and newsletters written by Molly and her team of guest bloggers. I’ve found the content to be quite worthwhile. I’d even go so far as to say that I would nod along while reading, because most, if not all of the thoughts that were shared around the topics of self-love and self-care seemed very logical to me. Of course, we have to take care of ourselves first, before we can take care of others. Of course, I think that I deserve as much attention as everybody else around me. You know, theoretically. But that was the extent of it. It never went any further than theoretical agreement. Then, a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon the Fierce Love Course. This course would actually mean to not just read along, but to put the concept into action.
After some a very short time of consideration, I decided that is was time – and totally worth it – to invest in myself, that maybe it wasn’t so selfish after all to learn how to take care of myself; and so I signed up for the 30-day course.
I am currently in week 2 and I am planning to share some bits and pieces of my journey with you. I also feel very lucky to do this course with a bunch of awesome ladies, first and foremost my Fierce Love buddy Erin, who agreed to work with me on this and keep me motivated (and vice versa, of course).
What is one thing you have done for yourself today?
erin
March 7, 2012 at 7:50 amFirst off, have I mentioned how great I think you are? I’m sorry I’ve been a “no-show” this week. I owe you an email. I am JUST starting week two because of all that has been happening on my end. I’ll email you now! I can’t wait to really dig in and make this fierce love buddy thing work for both of us. San, you’re the best!
Holly
March 7, 2012 at 7:53 amI’ve been hearing a lot about this whole “Fierce Love” thing – I can’t wait to read more about it on your (and Erin’s!) blog! As a mom, I tend to take care of everything and everyone else before I take care of myself – I need to learn to love myself, too! What is one thing I’ve done for myself today? Umm … I let myself sleep in an extra five minutes :)
Melissa
March 7, 2012 at 8:14 amCan’t wait to see where this takes you in the next couple weeks! Please DO share, I’d love to learn more about the course before I decide whether or not I wanna take it (currently on a budget, so not this month… We’ll see though!)
kim
March 7, 2012 at 9:04 amoh i can’t wait to hear more about it, sweety. might be something i wanna do, too once there’s a liiittle more order in my life again! xoxo
Stephany
March 7, 2012 at 9:15 amI’m really interested in doing this series, but I don’t have the funds right now. Maybe after my cruises? It’s something I really need, not so much because I give all my love away to others but because I’m not very nice to myself most days. I think it would be an eye-opening experience for me.
I’m glad to hear how much success you are finding through it AND that you have a buddy to have along the journey!
Suburban Sweetheart
March 7, 2012 at 10:10 amI ate Cheese-Its today. Does that count as doing something for myself?
erin
March 7, 2012 at 12:15 pmHell yes.
Steffi
March 8, 2012 at 2:00 amHavent done anything for myself today so far.
Will go ride my horse with no stress today and take as much time as I want to.
Irene
March 8, 2012 at 6:08 amWow, sounds great…can’t wait to hear about it…
I totally need to do more for myself, especially after I experienced a few horrible days of totally not loving myself and doubting that anyone likes me last week…I always put my kids and hubby first, then my friends and then me…I think I should change that!!
Jen
March 8, 2012 at 7:41 amGood for you for doing this! I wish you the best of lucks in your journey.
Lisa of Lisa's Yarns
March 8, 2012 at 6:03 pmI think this sounds like such a cool course. And what a worthwhile thing to focus on. I came a long way in the self-love journey through my 20s and can really say I love myself way more now than I did when I graduated from college. But I still have a ways to go.
One thing I did for myself today was take time to stop by the library and pick up a new book I have been excited to read (The Fault in Our Stars).
Amanda
March 11, 2012 at 4:03 pmA little late to the party because my Reader is bursting at the seams, but I really am looking forward to hearing more about your experiences with this course. I’ve only tangentially been aware of Stratejoy, but am curious to see what the buzz is :)