Self-Care is Self-Love

LOVE.
It’s something we all seek and something we all crave. And yet the ultimate kind of love, is really SELF Love. We all know how important it is to our mental health and how we show up in the world. And yet, it seems to be one of the hardest things to attain. The key? Self-care leads you to self-love.

I myself have spent my life so far learning to love myself, and so it’s no surprise that I find myself teaching self love now. We teach what we’re learning and passionate about. My life this year has led me to the deepest points of self love I have yet to experience.

What changed? 

I became 100% committed to myself, my growth and learning to love ME just the way I am. I take my self care seriously and really began to treat my mind and body like a temple. 

This is all still ongoing of course. Though, it’s not just a habit or a routine. It’s become a way of life. A lifestyle. It is now deeply ingrained into my daily life. I feel the benefits of it daily. When I miss a day, the effects are undeniably noticeable.

“In order to attract what you want, you must first become it.”

What is Self-Care ? 

Self-care is deliberate action you take to better your mental health, emotional health, physical health and spiritual health. It can start with small tasks like drinking water in the mornings, or taking a cold shower.

It’s a radical act of SELF-LOVE to help you feel safe and secure and to build trust with yourself.

Self-care is the baseline of what we need to feel connected to ourselves. To begin to really get to know ourselves, heal ourselves, trust ourselves, believe in ourselves and eventually, love ourselves.

5 Things you can try to add more self-care and self-love to your life.

I know it can feel overwhelming to start something new, but remember, YOU ARE WORTH IT! 

Your life is YOURS to experience it. Emotions and ups and downs will always be there, but YOU are the constant thread. Your relationship to yourself is the longest you will ever have, so get to know you, and get to love you! 

Try adding any or all of these to your daily life and notice how you feel.

1. Go to Bed early + meditate before bed

There are so many benefits to meditation and getting a good night’s sleep. If you need to listen to a guided meditation, check this one out.

2. Stay off your phone in the morning!

Trust me, this one has saved me. I stay off my phone in the mornings now until I’ve completed my morning practice and have gone for my morning walk with Soul. I feel lighter and more at ease.

3. Get out in Nature. 

Wherever you are in the world, no matter what season it is, nature is healing. Make sure you at least get outside once a day. Take yourself for a nature walk or hike and enjoy the grounding effects.

4. Take a salt bath.

To my surprise, many people don’t take baths. I’ve never understood why! Salt baths are nurturing and relaxing. It’s like being back in your mother’s womb. Take a salt bath any time you need to decompress or heal the body.

5. Mindful Eating and drinking.

Become aware of the food you consume and how much caffeine you consume. Your body runs on breath, energy and nutrients. Make sure you are giving your body high quality foods and limiting the amount of caffeine you drink. Coffee can over stimulate your body and throw you into fight or flight and anxiety. Notice the shifts when you begin to eat less processed foods, fewer fried foods and no processed sugars ! 

Making it a Lifestyle. 

Try to commit to yourself the same way you’d want commitment from your lover. 

Build yourself a morning practice or try one of the above tasks for 1 month minimum. Grab a friend to do this with you and hold each other accountable!!! 

To get more help curating your morning practice, check out this PDF I made just for you! 

Once these practices are no longer just routines, they will become your new lifestyle. You will become hyper aware and sensitive to your surroundings, to what you eat and drink, to what time you go to bed. You will know yourself so well and do what you need to do to express massive LOVE to yourself (and do it without feeling bad about it!). 

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Remember, you are worthy and you are loved.
With love, from my heart to yours. 

Luciana Santaguida