A Game Plan to Create Chronic Illness Proof Holiday Traditions
When you think about it, the only constant in your life is you. And yet, many of us struggle to accept, let alone love, ourselves for who we truly are, flaws and quirks included.
Too often, we compare ourselves to others, feeling that we don’t measure up. What the critical voices in our head tend to forget, is that we’re only seeing the highlight reel of other people’s lives, while our own journeys are filled with ups and downs. So we beat ourselves up over the mistakes we make. Even when we do succeed, we feel like it’s more a matter of luck than the result of our talents, skills and hard work.
Self-love can be especially hard to practice when you have a chronic illness. Because how do you love the parts of your body that hurt, let you down and prevent you from living a ‘normal’ life?
And still, self-love has a big impact on your quality of life. Self-love helps you to set healthy boundaries, allow supportive people in your life only and practice self-care. Studies even show that more self-compassion leads to less distress and reduced pain in chronically ill people. When you respect your own wants and needs, you’re more likely to make decisions that nourish instead of deplete you. That’s why Gala Darling states that loving yourself is a revolutionary act.
To start cultivating self-love, you can practice self-compassion; the mindset of treating yourself with kindness, understanding and acceptance. When you notice you’re thinking harshly of yourself, speak to yourself the way you would to a close friend and gently coach yourself through tough times. You could also take up journaling to boost your emotional wellbeing. Structured reflective writing has been shown to increase self-awareness and reduce negative self-judgment.
Add some mindfulness to your day, by focusing on your breathing and movements, engaging your senses or simply noticing your thoughts without trying to change them. Mindfulness allows you to become aware of your thoughts, emotions and physical sensations without judgement, which helps you to accept the parts of yourself you’re less happy with.
Finally, self-love grows when you focus on the good things, even if you’re living with chronic illness. Despite all your limitations, scars and aching, you are still a loving human being with a good sense of humor or a beautiful voice. Maybe being sick has stripped away some aspects of your identity, and it’s totally ok to miss your old self, but against your will, chronic illness also made you more resilient, more empathetic , more appreciative of what truly matters in life. Celebrate your unique skills and talents, whether you make the best chili or you give perfectly fitting book recommendations!
Take a look at these 11 self-love quotes to help you realize it all starts with you.
You don’t have to be the best version of yourself before you can love yourself. Just treat yourself with the same care, patience and kindness you would offer a friend. Hopefully these self-love quotes have reminded you that even small shifts in how you talk to yourself and take care of your emotional needs can make a meaningful difference over time.
Which self love quotes resonate most with you? And how do you practice self-love, especially during challenging times?
If you enjoyed reading this article, you might also like 12 Heartwarming Quotes to Encourage Compassion for Others and Yourself and How to Do a Loving-Kindness Meditation.
