Self Love Guide for Indian Women

I believe being a part of a collectivistic country like India a lot of what we do, our thoughts and our emotions revolve around our close surroundings which, over the course of time, make us sideline an important aspect, OURSELF.

For Indian women, Self Care is complicated (or it is made complicated and difficult to fulfill). Indian women are always taught to care about others and look after their needs.

The learning of being there for others is so engaging that they forget to keep themselves first. In the process, their self-esteem and self-respect are compromised many times, sometimes unconsciously.

Therefore, it is important to understand that true happiness is about others as well as YOU.

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

Mahatma Gandhi

Ponder on Subtle Negligence for Self

Let me give you some insight into how we unknowingly neglect ourselves. Our culture tends to promote trends like respecting elders which probably means do not talk back even if they are wrong or deal oppressively with the male domination or keep your family first and take care of their well-being even if it means not taking care of your own.

Women are conditioned into these toxic ideas of how to be an ideal woman by neglecting themselves and with time it becomes difficult for them to get out of these patterned behaviors without feeling guilty for their actions. This behavior is so subtle that we tend to overlook it and compromise on keeping ourselves first

Self Love is a Hot Topic but how to practice it?

Self Love simply means loving yourself first under all circumstances, unconditionally. The subjectivity of Self Love gives it a way to incorporate all unique ways to express regard for our own happiness.

To some people, it seems selfish or narcissistic but you should always remember that SELF LOVE IS NOT A SELFISH ACT.

Self Love for Indian Women

Self Love can mean having a cup of coffee on your balcony after a lousy day, a hot shower, scented candles, reading a book, exercising, meditating, going for shopping, traveling, spas, socializing, eating at a restaurant alone, etc. but being an Indian woman I can tell you there is hardly any time left for that.

Do you know what a day looks like in the life of an Indian woman?

It is getting up early in the morning, cooking for everyone, making sure they head off to work/school on time and then heading off to work themselves or if a housewife, she probably takes care of other household chores during the day.

While she works all day and plays different roles, she does not get a minute to herself.

To all the Indian women out there, I understand it is tough for you to keep yourself first but here is a self-love guide to get you started and motivate you in your journey towards “mein apni favorite hun.”

Guide to Self Love

1. Start with appreciating yourself more. Acknowledge the work you do for everyone else

2. Validating your emotions and not feeling guilty for having felt them in the first place.

3. Forgiving yourself and others when things get messy.

4. Being grateful for everything you do and everything you have

5. Self-criticism doesn’t have a role on this journey

6. Using your free time for yourself or the ones you love (others can definitely contribute towards your journey but cannot overpower it, understand the difference).

7. Feeling content with who you are and where you are in your life right now.

8. Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses so you can use it for your advantage.

9. Giving in to your goals and interests

10. Making healthy choices and using constructive coping strategies

11. Celebrate your accomplishments and give yourself credit.

12. Ask for help!

Most importantly, do yourself a favor and check-in with yourself every now & then.

Finally being able to recognize the importance of Self Love and practicing it will sound something like-

“I do not feel very good today, let me take an off”

or “I am sorry but now is not a good time for me”

or “I am not feeling good about this decision of yours, let us have a discussion over it.”

or “I forgive you”

or “That was some great work that I did today”, etc.

When you will keep self-love in action, you will realize it helps you grow in a holistic manner and gives you every bit of positivity that you were seeking in your life earlier.

Hey woman, be yourself, love yourself unapologetically, daily!

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