February, the month of love! The time when we’re told to dream of diamond jewelry, red roses, decadent chocolates and Victoria’s Secret. Oh, to have all these things! Well, okay, to have any of these things. Heck, to have a date! Then means we should be happy and loved, right?
But many a Valentine’s Day has come and gone with no jewelry, no roses, no chocolate, and I personally like to shop at Victoria's Secret during a sale. Still, our desire to be loved is the thing we’re all really after. Not just in February, either, but all year long.
Feeling loved takes different forms like acceptance, approval, and success. We want desperately to feel good about ourselves. We especially want that special someone to say “You are such an amazing woman that I can’t imagine living with you.”
I know I’ve felt that way. I’ve also unknowingly absorbed the messages of our advertising culture that basically tell us to buy this, wear that, and look this way to get the love you want. That all the attraction is on the OUTSIDE.
The truth is, the real stuff, the best part, is all on the INSIDE.
Loving yourself means not looking to other people or things to do the job. It means filling up your “love bucket” by spending time on you - be it taking a longer coffee break, splurging on a massage, reading a book, or having a fun conversation with a friend.
Our internal good girl might nag us by saying “You should take care of others first before taking care of yourself.” Well, again, the good girl isn’t quite right. She obviously hasn’t been on a plane lately, either. She hasn’t heard the wisdom of the airplane safety message: “In case of loss of cabin air pressure, put your mask on first before helping others.” By loving yourself first you are best equipped to love and help others. (I swear that safety message must have been written by a Bodacious Woman!)
So, ask yourself “Who you do love?” (in a George Thorogood and the Destroyers kind of way). Are you the first person who comes to mind? If not, perhaps it's time to make some internal adjustment. By loving yourself you give yourself and others the biggest gift possible. Now, that's bodacious!
Image credit FreeDigitalPhotos.net
About Mary Foley
Get more free resources to increase sanity in your life at MaryFoley.com, including your Free Sanity, Confidence & Fun Action Pack with eBooks 5 Empowering Words for Women and How to Be a Courageous, Bodacious® Woman ~ Outrageously in Charge of Your Life & Lovin' It! Mary inspires women with practical advice to create sanity in your life and confidence in your career – all while having a bit of fun! She is the author of three books, a popular national speaker, and former co-host of the Girlfriend We Gotta Talk! radio show. Find out more at http://www.maryfoley.com.
I know I’ve felt that way.