Love yourself. What does that really mean? Does it mean taking time for yourself? Does it mean treating yourself to something special time? Does it mean fulfilling your own desires? Is that what self love is all about?
For years I have worked in a field where taking care of others was mandatory. My job was to go out and ensure that the province’s most vulnerable – the children – were safe. Some days were tough others were not so tough. But at the end of everyday, I felt tired. Some days I would get home and take off my shoes and throw myself on the coach. Ever have one of those days where you don’t want to cook dinner? Instead you just want to open up the cupboard and eat snack foods all night? I know I’m not the only one who could have cheese and crackers as the meal of the night! But wait!!! Who was going to take care of my children? Oops, that would be me. So like many of you, I picked myself up and you gave what little energy I had left to my kids. And after they went to bed I’d decide to watch a little T.V. only to discover in the morning that the T.V. was watching me! And a little while later, that call that so many of us here “MOM!!!! (or whatever role you play as primary caregiver) where are my socks? Where are my pants?” So you get up, and you start your day giving. Not complaining, don’t get me wrong. Just stating the facts. The main thought going through my mind was – there had to be more to life than this. Right?
See for years, I’ve had an issue with the following – if you’re a mom like me, you will know the routine:
Wake up
Feed kids
Dress kids
Pack lunches
Get kids to school
Go to work
Come home
Feed kids
Get kids to soccer
Get back home
Get homework done
Get kids cleaned up
Get kids in bed
Do some work
Go to sleep
Then the next day:
Wake up
Feed kids
Dress kids
Pack lunches
Get kids to school
Go to work
Come home
Feed kids
Get kids to soccer
Get back home
Get homework done
Get kids cleaned up
Get kids in bed
Do some work
Go to sleep
And the next day:
Wake up
Feed kids
Dress kids
Pack lunches
Get kids to school
Go to work
Come home
Feed kids
Get kids to soccer
Get back home
Get homework done
Get kids cleaned up
Get kids in bed
Do some work
Go to sleep
And repeat, repeat, and repeat. And I haven’t even mentioned the significant other yet.
But don’t get me wrong, there is beauty in raising children and watching them flourish. But for me, it was the repetition that I found stifling. It felt like life was living me instead of the other way around.
When the feeling of hopelessness comes on you because you just don’t know how to break the cycle what happens? In all honesty what do you do? Some of you may experience depression. Some of you may experience marital discord. Or some of you may experience a spiritual dis-ease – an uneasiness down deep in your soul. For me, I experienced all three. What I discovered was that I was not living in my purpose. I was not living in the reason I was put on this earth. When you don’t live in your purpose, that is when those feelings of despair occur. If you are feeling that there is more to life than what you are experiencing, then you are probably right. The question I ask you then is this, if you had all the money, all the freedom, and all the connections you needed, what would you be doing differently? How would you be living? Really think about it. What would you do? Think outside of the box. Does it look very much like how your life looks now or does it look drastically different? There are no right or wrong answers here. I’m just trying to get you to think. You can be whatever you want to be. Is that not what we tell our kids? There is no such thing as it being too late – extraordinary people prove that everyday. The only difference between them and you is their willingness to love themselves enough to get up and do something about it.
So my friend, what’s stopping you from living your greatest life now? If you are living your greatest life now, how did you do it? Please share your thoughts on either question. Your answers may help motivate someone to fulfil their purpose and live their greatness. I’d love to hear from you and if you need to chat – you know where to find me!! email: info@jenslay.com; twitter: @jenslayvision; facebook: www.facebook.com/jenslayvisionary.
You are all inspirations to someone – whether you know it or not. Why not be an inspiration to you.
Believing in you,
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