When I Love Myself.
By Leila Hussein.
Have you ever slow danced with yourself?
Have you ever stroked your face, held your own hand, and fallen head over heels madly in love with yourself? No. I thought not. It is not seen as the thing to do these days. Too many people cry narcissism. Self-love? Are you mad, woman? Don’t be absurd.
But it is the key to everlasting happiness. When I love myself, I manage money in a way that keeps me feeling safe — looked after. When I love myself, I know inherently that I need no man to complete me.
When I love myself, I look in the mirror and find myself to be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.
When I love myself, I place firm boundaries about what I need — unapologetically. When I love myself, I know my worth and make sure others know it too.
When I love myself, I always have fresh linen, a clean tidy room, and my bills paid. When I love myself, my fridge is always full and I eat three nourishing meals a day. When I love myself, I am untouchable because I know I can survive anything — and anyone that comes my way.
When I love myself, I am Superwoman — brave.
When I love myself, I express my feelings and feel no shame for doing it.
When I love myself, I know I deserve love, happiness, and to have all my dreams fulfilled.
When I love myself, I laugh when I hear a bird sing.
When I love myself, I don’t believe all the lies about the world being a scary place.
When I love myself — really love myself, I stop distracting myself from my own thoughts, fears and self-talk.
When I love myself, my thoughts are wrought with self-worth, gratitude and joy.
Instead of self-criticism and what I have done wrong…
When I love myself, I can look at a beautiful woman and feel her beauty is only evidence of my own beauty. Because we are all one. Connected. Like a rose, she shows me what I am and can be.
When I love myself, I go after my dreams and don’t let anything stand in my way.
When I love myself, I breathe in the Now moment and just be in this perfect Today.
When I love myself, I speak up for myself against anyone, no matter who they may be.
When I love myself, I feel surges of strong love for my friends and family.
When I love myself, I don’t use sugar to swallow down my pain.
When I love myself, I don’t care what any man thinks of me.
When I love myself, I massage myself and brush my hair gently — putting hair grips in carefully so I don’t hurt me.
When I love myself, I stop getting angry at myself for being afraid.
When I love myself, I realize how no one adds to my worth, and nothing I can say
can detract from it, so I start being me.
When I love myself… I feel free.
*****
Leila Hussein is a poet, writer, songwriter, artist and designer, based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Her passions include cooking, music, nature, Yoga, dancing, running, architecture and design. She still doesn’t have her driving license, yet knows how to fly a plane. She hopes to answer one essential question with her writing — in the words of Nina Simone, “Do I move you? She loves to explore this vast wonderful world and believes in the healing powers and life-giving force of love, laughter, family, music and creation. She is partial to a bit of Eddie Izzard — any time life has become too serious and she needs to remind herself to let go and laugh. She loves acting like a kid going on swings, and has been known to dance outdoors sometimes, mood permitting.