One of the best things that probably ever happened to me was reading one book ” The Five Love Languages For Singles” by Gary Chapman, a renowned Marriage Counselor ,Author and Pastor.
Before I read the book,I had never really thought about people having a certain way they like to be shown love or a certain way they express love to others. Reading the book opened my mind and eyes to the fact that people love,show love and express love in different ways. It got me thinking about all the people I know and how consciously or unconsciously they express love or the lack of it to me and others.

The book identified the 5 long languages as follows; Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Acts of Service and Receiving Gifts. It established that these were the 5 main ways people expressed and received love,it also went ahead to say it was possible for a person to be ‘bilingual’ or have a primary and secondary love language. This made sense.

However, today, I am not interested in talking about how we like to love or receive love,instead,I would like to explore ways we can show love to ourselves,that is ‘Self Love Language’. In the fast paced world we live in ,it is easy to get lost in the rush of everything; trying to make money,building a business,building a career, showing off how successful you are, meeting up with real and imagined deadlines, making a family, raising children,retaining friendships and so on. In trying to keep up with the many demands on our time and energy,we sometimes forget that we are also human,in need of love too,not love from anyone,but love for ourselves,you  cannot give what you do not have,if you do not love yourself enough to pause and do things for yourself that make you happy,things that fill up your love tank and replenish your lost energy,how would you expect others to do it for you?

So what is your self love language? How do you show yourself love? What are those things you do for yourself that make you feel worthy? What are those things that make you feel like you can take on the world? If you have never heard about the 5 love languages before today,you can think about those things that people do for you that make you feel like they care about you? If you really want to make someone feel like you appreciate and love them,what would you do for them? It is not hard to know because a lot of times,we express love to people the way we like to receive love. For instance,my primary love language is Quality time,if I am spending time with someone or doing something, it is because of the value I attach to them/it.😀 In the same way,when I want to do something for myself or if I am feeling low, I spend time with myself,I take myself out for lunch or I take myself to the saloon. Washing my hair has a way of soothing my nerves,it is as If when something is bothering me and I wash my hair,my brain somewhat re-arranges things and I am able to put things in perspective😊😊. For someone else,it might be affirming to yourself how beautiful or special you are,it might be speaking positive things to yourself or standing in front of a mirror and encouraging yourself. For yet another person,it maybe buying yourself a gift you have always wanted.

Whatever it is you can do for yourself,do it! Always remember that you owe it to yourself to love yourself first, you owe it to yourself to strive to be better,you owe it to yourself to know that you are deserving of love . It is almost impossible to love others without loving yourself First! Even the good book says “Love your neighbour as YOURSELF”

From me to you,Love yourself enough to express love to yourself and be happy😀😉

Image culled from Social Media.