On Becoming Your (Best) Friend
To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance. – Oscar Wilde
If you had to guess, how often do you have negative self-talk during the day?
My husband asked me this question, and if I am being honest, it probably happens a lot more than I am consciously aware of.
For example, it could be something seemingly benign, like my hair looks flat today, or it could be something greater like I’m not a good partner.
Whether our self-talk is benign or great, there is a cumulative effect to it. Each thought compounds and weighs on us.
Literally, I believe our negative thoughts are stored as energy in the body, and we walk through life with a weight…
…a weight that can be unloaded, if only we (1) became more aware of the heavy thoughts we put on ourselves, and (2) if we actively choose to be kind to ourself in response.
Perhaps its ironic, but recently, I heard Gwyneth Paltrow share on her IG story that, over the last decade, she has became really good friends with herself, and also, speaks to herself from that place.
As I turn 33 in a matter of days, I think about this more. I think about how I don’t have time to walk through life with a heavy weight of negativity.
That I can take myself out of my self-inflicted chains, whether they be big or small.
That I can choose to be my dearest, most loving friend.
That probably, that is the greatest thing I can show my daughter (not “say” to my daughter, because showing speaks greater than words).
Perhaps that’s the greatest thing we can pass onto future generations: the act of self acceptance, the practice of self-love.
At least that’s what I’m starting to believe.
xx
Megan