I’ve written about the importance of Self-Love before…here and here … oh and HERE too.  (OK, so it’s a fave topic of mine.  In fact, the theme of Self-Love is inherent in most every post I write, blatant or subtle, it’s there.)

Now, it’s time to get down to it.

Can you shout from the mountain tops and proclaim your Self-Love?

What…? Is there a part of you that feels a little squeamish at the thought of that?

Why?  When you think of another in your life whom you love, is it easy to come up with 5 things you love about them?  Can you rattle those 5 things off without blinking an eye?

I believe it’s important for us to recognize the qualities within ourselves that make us fall in love with ourselves over and over again.

We’re better in everything we do when we have an honest, loving relationship with ourselves.  We’re better in every other relationship we have in our lives when our relationship with our Self is in L-O-V-E, Love.

Define Self-Love

Do you know what the dictionary says about Self-Love?  My Mac dictionary says this:

“Self-Love~ regard for one’s own well-being and happiness (chiefly considered as a desirable rather than narcissistic characteristic).”

You see?  Even the dictionary agrees Self-Love is a desirable trait! And a ‘regard for one’s own well-being and happiness’?  Hello.  That is truly what life is all about.  Abraham says life is meant to be JOYful.  Seems to me that Self-Love is the passageway.

So let’s go ahead and give ourselves permission to rattle off 5 things we love about ourselves.

I’ll go first…

5 Things I Love About Me:

1. My infectious smile. When I smile I feel it in my whole body…every cell, every nerve ending, every single bit of me feels my smile.  And it feels good.
2. My JOY factor. The smallest things turn me on.  I love that about me.  It doesn’t take much…and I’m all gleeful…like a kid in a candy store.
3. My HUGE Heart. I love how much LOVE I feel inside.  Sometimes I wonder just how much my chest can expand…I mean, there’s gotta be a lot of room in there for this great big heart!…really easy to get to 3 things……slight pause now……oh, and here come the other two…
4. My Way with Words. I love how words flow through me…I love how easy it is to communicate with my words…and how I find lots of feel good words floating through my thoughts.
5. My Inner Knowing. My sensitivity. (Does that count for two?  …for me they’re kind of the same.  Close relatives.  Like twins, if not one and the same.)  I’m a feeling person.  I love that about me.  I love how my sensitivity, my inner messenger, draws me nearer to my Brilliance, the one true essence of who I AM.

There.  5 Things I Love About Me.  Woo-Hoo!!!  …and you know what?  Now that I’ve proclaimed these 5 I can feel a river of love qualities flowing freely. Mmm…that feels good.

OK…now it’s your turn!

Please come along!  Use the comment section to Proclaim Your Self-Love from the Mountain Tops!

I want to hear you shout 5 things You LOVE about Your Self…right here…right now!

Self Love Fortune Photo

“Scary.. going offline at midnight.. till Friday. Time out for self care, go within & reconnect with myself. Calling Inner Guidance forth.”

I replied:
“@TiaSparkles Oooo…enJOY your time with yourself/guidance, Tia!!! Magical space that it is! It’s gonna rock!  See ya Fri!!

She said:
“@debsoul I still have 3 somethin’ hours in the online world! LOL.

I replied:
“@TiaSparkles You’re right. Be in the moment. EnJOY these 3 hours…and then…immerse yourself in the magic of YOU!

And she responded:
“@debsoul Tx! I like your take on it. Mine was more the `get away & go within to find what I seek` kinda sabbatical! LOL. Just need time out.

And I simply replied:
“@TiaSparkles :0) I LOVE time outs! :0)”

This morning I woke up and thought about Tia…starting her Time Out/Sabbatical with herself, away from the computer, appointments, obligations, etc…and I smiled.

I love Time Outs and give them to myself frequently.  They’re powerful.  They’re necessary.

When I came to my own computer (as I’m not on a computer time out right now) I noticed Tia’s new post announcing her Time Out…posted just before midnight last night.

In her post she talks about the movie Penelope (spoiler alert!! for Tia’s post) and how the story centers around Penelope, a beautiful girl who is seemingly cursed with a pig’s nose until she can find her one true love.  It’s a wonderful movie that teaches us the value and importance of Self Love.

Here is my comment (hardly a comment, more of a post, that’s why it’s here) in response to Tia’s post:

Dear Tia…

YAY for YOU!!!!  I love every post you share, my friend.  And I love this one like crazy ’cause it’s one of the most important themes you’ll ever touch on…and one of the most important all of us can give our awareness to.

I loved Penelope, the movie!  What a great example for talking about Self Love!

I’m a Self Love fanatic!! (That must sound so crazy to those who are still thinking that being selfish is a bad thing…)

Thanks for recognizing the need in yourself for a time out…and for giving yourself one…RIGHT NOW!  What a gift.  …not only for you, but for everyone of us who’s path you touch.  (Can you seriously get any better??)

When we give ourselves permission to be with ourselves…in a loving, nurturing, ‘I’m there for you’ kind of a way…it’s like getting the best bear hug ever!  It feels sooo goood.  The connection with our Divine Self deepens…and we all know what happens then.  Our vibration rises yet again, we’re more aligned with the Pure Brilliance we were born to be, we beam Happy-Power-Joy-JOY all over the place…and our lives and the lives of those around us are infinitely more alive and enriched simply because we said YES! to falling more deeply in Self Love!

Pretty darn cool.

Oh yeah, you asked what some of my favorite time outs for myself include~

First of all, I look at every day and say…OK, where is my time-out today?  I need one every day…and if I don’t feel I’m giving myself that I get kinda cranky…and then I need a BIG time out…which is OK too…but, getting them every day makes me feel SUPER Special & keeps the whole ‘overwhelm’ thing out of the picture.

My favorite time-outs include one or more of the following:

• Time with my horse, Lindy Rose…at liberty…in the pasture, being one w/the herd
• Walking in nature…especially a forest trail
• Reading my favorite book of the moment
• Soaking in my hot tub or extra large soak tub~immersing myself in water feels so yummy
• Cooking or Baking~when it’s just for fun, something special and creative…at a time of my choosing…but even making dinner each night feels like ‘time-out’ activity most of the time (think Chocolat!)
• Listening to my fave music & letting my inner rock star shine (except I’m usually singing along with Snatam Kaur or Tina Malia, hardly rock stars…but their music stirs my soul!)
• Laying on the floor with my dog, Ashki for some scratch & snuggle time
• …that’s the short of it!  The list could easily go on and on.

I’ve created our home as a sanctuary/retreat in and of itself.  Everything I need (except my horse, she’s a few miles down the road) is right here…including a mini forest for tree hugging and contemplation space.  When your home space supports your desire to connect to your full Brilliance, Self Love becomes second nature…it’s just so easy to give yourself what you need.

I’m so excited and happy for you, Tia!!!  You GO Girl!
Much LOVE and JOY…  Debra (@debsoul)

Being the Self Love Fanatic that I am, you’ve probably recognized this theme running through other posts…especially this one and this one.  And remember, being in deep Self Love helps you rock your Joy of Brilliance!  What are you waiting for?!?  Give yourself the Time Out you deserve so you can shine like the Divine Elephant you are!!  (Does anyone else see a recurring theme here??)

Give yourself a Self Love Time Out today…and tomorrow…and the next day…you get the picture.  You deserve it!  In fact, you owe it to yourself.

In honor of Tia and Self Love Time Outs…I’d love to hear about some of your favorite Self Love Time Outs.  What do you do that helps you fall more deeply in Self Love?

Photo Credit: My Niece, Mother Nature, Grandfather Tree & Me