Self-Love Series (Part 1 of 4): Creating Space
It’s that time of year. You know the time. When the aisles of the stores are filled with chocolate candies with heart-shaped boxes, “I love you” cards, jewelry sales, roses, teddy bears, and more. This creates, consciously or unconsciously, a desire to be loved. A desire to be thought of. A desire to receive gifts. Every part of this retail-driven spectacle points to seeking outside of oneself for love.
For much of my life, I bought into this, literally and figuratively. I wanted someone else to fill me up – particularly a man.
Then, through a series of life events which I’ve spoken to many times on this blog, I broke down. I was depressed. I was having panic attacks. And I judged myself for having this experience. I mean, after all, I had a loving man who appreciated me. I had children who gave me hugs and kisses each day. How could I possibly be depressed?
It was then, in that moment of despair, that I realized the biggest thing that was missing from what life taught me up to that point about what love is: how to love myself.
As I took steps toward healing, I began to carve out time for myself to read inspirational material that left me uplifted, write in my journal to release suppressed emotions, stretch my body and balance my energy through yoga practice, and more. The ability to heal and return to peace was right there all along, and it was right within me. And it is right within us all. It is revealed as we create consistent space for intentional self-love in our lives. And as this inner peace settles in, the desire to seek outside the self to be filled up will disappear.
Now, does this mean, you will no longer appreciate expressions of love from another? Absolutely not. In fact, you will appreciate them more because you are grounded in your own sense of worth. You will know that these cards, jewels, chocolates, don’t make you any better than you were the moment before you received them. You know that you are beautiful, that you are whole, that you are infinite, that you are worthy of abundance, and so much more. When we allow the Light from within to shine, we will receive more than we can imagine. The gifts of self-love and inner peace are beyond what money can buy.
So, for the month of February, what will you commit to doing daily to love yourself first?
Starting this morning, I woke up at 4:00 a.m., meditated (15 minutes), practiced yoga (15 minutes), and wrote (30 minutes). I will continue this early morning practice for the month of February. I have gotten off of my yoga practice completely, and my body feels so much better when I do this consistently. I also had not been waking up early to meditate consistently, which would leave me starting the day feeling out of balance. I know this was not helping me be my best self as a mother, wife, consultant, or any of the other roles I play at this time.
So, this month, I release the excuses and get busy with loving myself enough to create space for what makes me feel balanced and at peace. Which, in turn, helps me extend peace and love to those who cross my path.
What will you create space for this month? In what ways can you love yourself more?
Let me know what you’re creating space for this month in the comments below! Let’s hold one another accountable so we can be our best selves and our Light can shine brighter in the world.
I will continue this series, weekly, for the next month or so. Each week, I will share a tip for loving yourself more than you could have ever imagined. Until next time…Much Love!
Keep shining!
Peace & Infinite Blessings,
~Kandace
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Kandace Jones
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BLOG: http://www.kandacejones.com
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/livinginthelight
TWITTER: @coachkandace
INSTAGRAM: @iamlivinginthelight
About the Author: Kandace Jones
I used to live life shackled by fear, doubt, and worry. I put on a happy face while navigating my day-to-day duties, but I was emotionally drained, stressed, and unhappy. When I hit rock bottom, and was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, I was determined to live life differently. I knew there had to be another way. Out of that determination, and guidance from Spirit, the "Living in the Light" blog was born. It documents my spiritual journey out of the darkness and into the Light. After nine months of publicly sharing my journey, and consciously releasing my attachment to the ego, I experienced a powerful spiritual awakening. I went from living in fear, doubt, worry, and stress to complete inner peace. My greatest passion has become assisting others on their own journey to inner peace.
My spiritual memoir, From Stress to Peace: An Intimate Journal on the Journey from Living in Darkness to Living in the Light, is available now on Amazon and BN.com. Click the tabs at the top of the page to learn more about the From Stress to Peace 21-Day Challenge, Living in the Light Retreats, 1:1 sessions, and the Living in the Light Community - all of which are designed to support your journey to inner peace. I appreciate you taking the time to visit the blog and look forward to supporting you in any way I can! 
Nice blog & great motivation. Stretching for me is enjoyable and my body loves it. I could set aside 15 minutes to do some each morning. I would also like to write more fictional stories and draw more fictional characters. I will give myself the free space to doodle whatever characters come out. And I will work on my writing through these characters – poems & short stories, and read more about improving both.
So glad to hear that! Yes, my body is like THANK YOU when I stretch. Every time I get back to it (like this morning), I ask myself why I ever stopped. But, I’m grateful for being reminded and even more motivated to stick to it.
I love the fictional stories idea! So creative and free flowing. If you’re open to sharing, I’d love to see one of the finished products. So fun!
This is right on time for me. Thank you! I am going to commit to waking up early enough to meditate each morning, go for a run 3 times a week (which makes me feel SO much better once I'm done), and go to yoga twice a week. I'm also going to cut out sugar and alcohol for this month (except on Valentine's Day…because, chocolate and red wine). These things are good for my body, and I always feel better when I make them a practice, but it's so easy to let other things get in the way. I'm going to commit to doing this for mySELF! Thank you so much for the reminder, and for creating this community for us.
So glad to hear that, Valerie!! It is SO easy to let other things take priority. I found myself doing that recently, and I was not being my best self. So, the motivation for writing this was to give myself a big kick in the butt and publicly hold myself, and anyone else who was ready for a self-love shift, accountable for making it happen. It is time for us to make loving ourselves #1! We got this!! (And, yes to chocolate and red wine on Valentine’s Day! I mean, that is self-love, right? ;-))
This is awesome! Hold me accountable! I will write one positive affirmation a day, meditate daily for five minutes and exercise twice a week. Thank you!
I love it, Kim!! We got this! *high five*
So glad to hear that, Valerie!! It is SO easy to let other things take priority. I found myself doing that recently, and I was not being my best self. So, the motivation for writing this was to give myself a big kick in the butt and publicly hold myself, and anyone else who was ready for a self-love shift, accountable for making it happen. It is time for us to make loving ourselves #1! We got this!! (And, yes to chocolate and red wine on Valentine’s Day! I mean, that is self-love, right? ;-))