SELF-LOVE VS. SELF-CARE: DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?
There’s no escaping the self-love/self-care movement! It’s easy to get them confused and intertwine their meanings. Both are there to essentially improve your life, but knowing how and when to use each one can is key.
It’s so important that we take care of ourselves and ensure our lives are well rounded, fulfilled, and serve us. Not just doing what’s expected of us. We’re living in a time where we have quick, easy access to almost anything! This has seen our generation has become quite consumed with ‘stuff’ and the materialistic pleasures in life. However, rarely do they provide true happiness and even if they do, it’s short-lived.
Self-love and self-care can often cost very little, if anything at all!
Self-love is “regard for one’s well-being and happiness.” You want to ensure your own cup is full, and that what it’s full of is truly benefiting you!
Self-love is taking care of yourself on all levels; mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This can mean giving yourself compassion and grace, but also knowing when to call yourself out on your own bullshit in order to move forward!
When it comes to the physical, this may look like getting active and eating well. It can also be knowing when to rest and not putting your body through unnecessary stress.
From an emotional standpoint, self-love may look like feeding your mind with positive things and spending time with people who increase your vibe! It can also be having a good cry when you feel overwhelmed to release some tension. Equally, walking away from people or situations that have you questioning yourself is also healthy and sometimes essential.
Mentally, self-love can consist of continually challenging yourself to become a better version of the person you are. However equally, it can be recognizing when you’re at the point of burnout and need to cut yourself some slack.
On a spiritual level, you may have more awareness of what you have to be grateful for in life! You start to believe in yourself and your self-worth more, and start living your life from a place of abundance.
One of the things I think is most important though that also falls under the self-love banner is finding self-acceptance. Dropping the constant need to compare yourself to others, feeling like you need to have achieved certain things by a certain age, and starting to celebrate your differences.
I stopped with all of the external pressures to be someone I wasn’t, to fit a mold society had formed for me. I’ve never felt more comfortable in my own skin until I surrendered and became at peace with the person I was.
I’m different, and I fully embrace that! Ever since I’ve started living life more authentically, things seem to fall into place a lot easier. I’m overall happier and able to do things based on my own needs and desires. I’m no longer questioning whether it’s something I should be doing or what people might say or think about my actions (plot twist: I. Don’t. Care!).
Self-care is more to do with physical acts and ways we can improve our mood and overall well-being. It’s key to good relationships and can help reduce anxiety.
To make the most of self-care, it should be an active choice, rather than something you stumble upon or do when you’re feeling low. Making it a non-negotiable will keep it consistent and hopefully not a necessity in order to bring you back to a more positive place.
We’re talking bubble baths, face masks, going to a yoga class, or a night out at your favorite restaurant!
It can also be cancelling those plans that you really don’t want to go to! You could take a digital detox, or go off-grid for a minute to spend some time with yourself and your thoughts.
Self-care can also show up by doing those things that seem like chores but actually set you up for success! By this I mean things like managing your money efficiently or setting boundaries for yourself!
I hope this has given you a bit more clarity on self-love & self-care. Hopefully you now know how you can implement them in your life more frequently, and has provided you with some inspiration to help you get going!
They both start with self because it’s as much about taking responsibility and ownership of yourself as it is about nurturing and looking after yourself; inside and out. This Fall, Fall in love with yourself!