My Self-Love Odyssey (Because 'Journey' Is Overused)
Welcome back to the blog! Since February is generally thought of as the month of loooooove, I felt a pull to talk about self-love. And, in the spirit of keeping things real, I wanted to share a little bit about where I’m at in my self-love… odyssey. (Because let’s be honest, “journey” is the most overused word on the internet, and I refuse to use it. We’re going epic with this one.)
Self-love is something I’ve been working on for a long time, and guess what? I’m still not where I want to be. But I think that’s alright.
The Body Changes, But the Mind Stays
Back in high school, I was severely underweight. Personal stress and being a three-sport athlete had me burning more calories than I could keep up with, and keeping weight on was a struggle. Fast forward to now, and—plot twist!—I’m overweight. So I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum, and let me tell you, learning to love myself as an overweight person has been way harder than when I was underweight.
But here’s the thing: Just because I don’t fit society’s idea of “beautiful” doesn’t mean I’m not still me. I still have a kind heart. I still have a smart mind. I still have a wicked sense of humor. (Some might argue too wicked, but that’s a discussion for another day.) Learning to reframe my thoughts this way has helped me move forward in my self-love odyssey every day.
What Self-Love Looks Like for Me
For me, self-love isn’t about looking in the mirror and suddenly thinking I’m a supermodel. It’s about keeping my self-talk positive and not reducing myself to just my body size. I try not to refer to myself as “fat” because, regardless of my weight, my body is still strong and capable.
It’s also about boundaries. (Oof, boundaries. We love them, we hate them, but we need them.) I’ve set boundaries for my mental health—both with my clients and my loved ones. For example, I don’t shoot on Fridays or Saturdays during the summer because we’re out camping. And after about 8 p.m., I try to shut off work mode so I can give Ross my full attention.
The Hardest Part? Seeing Myself.
Every time I see a picture of myself, I struggle. I see how different I look compared to how I used to look, and that’s a hard pill to swallow. But when I catch myself spiraling, I remind myself: My body has changed, but my mind hasn’t. I’m still a good person. I still have so much to offer.
And honestly? That reminder makes all the difference.
How I Actively Practice Self-Love
For me, self-love is all about reframing my thoughts. I can’t always control how I feel, but I can control how I respond to those feelings. Instead of beating myself up, I try to shift my perspective. Instead of dwelling on what I don’t like about myself, I focus on what I do like—whether that’s my ability to connect with people, my creative eye as a photographer, or my sheer talent for making the perfect s’more over a campfire.
And If You’re Struggling, Too…
If you’re also on your own self-love odyssey, I see you. It’s not easy, but you are worthy of love exactly as you are today. And if you ever need a reminder, come back and read this again.
Until next time,