Self-Love and Fortitude

What does self love mean to you?

In one word, this is what self-love means to me… Fortitude.

Why?

Well, to be honest, until recently and especially with launching my own business, I had never considered how my thoughts on self-love are connected to the ability to be courageous. But more than that… to be courageous in the face of adversity.

I don’t generally consider myself to be a particularly bold person, often quite happy to take a backseat or follow the lead of others. And yet, the better I get to know myself (it’s only taken almost 37 years and counting…), I’m learning that perhaps fear has been my major limitation in my perception of who I’m capable of being and crucially, what I am capable of achieving. And that fear has come from not believing or, at times, loving myself fully.

True self love gives us the fortitude (and determination) to withstand, and conquer, any challenge in life.

Many of us tend to deem self love as a reward for finally becoming the person we want to be which implies that our self love is subject to us being objectively ‘successful’ or ‘virtuous’.

To my mind, self-love is not a desire to be better or more deserving than others. Or being selfish or vain. It is also not conditional on certain desired outcomes. 

Instead, self-love is open and honest. It’s the ultimate commitment; to get to know and accept ourselves as we are. To fully experience life as it happens to us. To continually seek ways to emotionally, physically and spiritually grow from each and every experience, especially the ones that demand the most fortitude.