Self-Love

Hello Lavenders

Welcome to another blog; I hope you enjoyed last week's blog. Thank you for your excellent comments and feedback. I genuinely appreciate it. Be sure to like, share, comment, and subscribe. I hope you enjoy today's blog; thank you :). 

I cannot count the times I was asked in the past few months: Toluwanimi, do you love yourself? Do you know what it means to love yourself? Each time I was asked this question, I said yes, I love myself. But I did not understand what it meant to love myself. I thought it was calling myself beautiful in the mirror every day or saying I am naturally pretty very often, but I was wrong. Self-love is "regard for one's well-being and happiness (chiefly considered a desirable rather than narcissistic characteristic)." Self-love is not love within yourself; Self-love is not self-praise; Self-love is being who you are despite the comments of others. I am naturally a happy person; I love to smile and laugh. In a single day, I can laugh an average of ten times. Some people find my personality and spirit extra, some call me unique, and others tell me, Toluwanimi, you are perfect the way you are; there is no one else like you. Each opinion is correct and proper, but it depends on how I take it. People see and interpret things differently based on many factors, such as their life experiences, background, family, etc. Self-love is about you and how you see yourself. 

Self-love comes naturally to some people more than others. Many young females struggle with self-love, and we often mistake self-love for other things. For example, if a young female is not a certain weight she wishes to be or a specific size she wishes to be, she might mistake not liking her weight for not loving herself. Although different factors such as weight, height, skin color, and complexion contribute to an individual's perception of themselves, these things do not define self-love. Just because you are tall and love it does not mean you love yourself, or because you are thin and you love it does not mean you love yourself. Many young females rely on external and material things to define who they are to experience or have self-love. Loving yourself should not depend on other factors beyond yourself. 

As Lavender women, loving ourselves requires patience. I do not know if you remember what a Lavender plant symbolizes, but if you do not, it symbolizes purity, silence, devotion, caution, serenity, grace, and calmness. Our society and world have done a fair job of demonstrating what self-love is. But it is taken from the wrong angles, such as an advertisement only including slim females or an advertisement only including plus size females. Self-love takes time; it is gradual. 1 John 4:8 says, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." God loves all of us equally and the same, but we were not created the same. 

As young women, we must learn to show our true selves and let the world accept us for who we are. Your true self is not all about your external features. People want to know the real you. When you know the real you, you show the real you; when you show the real you, the right people will love you, and that is all that matters. I want to encourage and challenge you today to love yourself because nobody can love you like you do or more than you. Be who you are no matter who you are around. Let the world know you, and learn to love you for you. This is what self-love is. 

Thank you so much for reading; God Bless You Greatly. Remember to like, comment, share, and subscribe. If you are reading and do not believe in God, I encourage you to have an open heart and mind and give God a chance to prove himself. Please say this prayer: "Heavenly Father, I am a sinner and come to you to ask you to forgive me of my terrible sins. Thank you for dying for my sins and bearing the shame on that Cross so I may have eternal life. Today, I confess with my mouth that I have sinned against you, and believe with my whole heart that Jesus is Lord, and God raised Him from the dead on the third day. He is seated on the Heavenly throne and intercedes on my behalf. I give you my heart, soul, and life and pray that I will obey thy Word. In the precious name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen." 

If you just said that prayer, welcome to the family of believers. Congratulations!! Heaven rejoiced; God is so glad and happy to have you in his family. I will be praying for you and your walk with God. Feel free to contact me on the next steps in this new chapter in your life. Just fill out the keep in touch form on the home page, and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you once again for reading. God Bless You. Watch out for the next blog next Friday. Have a blessed week, Thank You. 

Please kindly check out my podcast, Daily Talks with Toluwanimi. A new episode comes out every Sunday at noon. It can be heard on the Anchor app, Breaker, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, and Spotify. God Bless You As You Do So. 

Compassion International is an organization that helps provide for children in poverty. You can sponsor a child or donate monthly at https://www.compassion.com/. God Bless You As You Do So.