Love Made Us Do It by Amy Goldberg

During the holiday season, our hearts are more open. We tend to share more, care more and give more. It’s a time of year when love is all around.

Love can make us do a lot of things – IS IT however powerful enough to truly and unapologetically love yourself wholeheartedly with compassion and admiration. The same way that you are with others?

Why is it that we are kinder to others than we are to ourselves?

What if you take that same love and give it back to yourself.

What if when you hear Love Made Us Do It you ‘feel’ it rather than ‘think’ about it. You truly ‘feel’ what that means to you. Right now, these could just seem like words. Not really hitting a cord – or maybe it’s hitting a cord, but you just don’t know how to play it. Not sure of the vibe. Just YET.

I know you know how to play it. If you’re reading this, then you’re perhaps interested or intrigued. Whatever the motivation is, it doesn’t matter.

We all show up in this life coming from different places in our lives. Different mindsets, experiences, and emotions. Our journey is unique to us, and yet we are all on a journey. It’s never a direct path. And if it were, it would be boring. You would never know and learn how resilient you really are.

So, what do I mean by “Love Made Us Do It.” When you give yourself the same compassion, love and care that you do for others watch how you feel. In doing so, you’re not only sending out more positive vibes, where you WILL feel more energetic and lighter, in turn, others will sense your vibe before you even utter a word. Why that’s so important is because we tend to flip this on its head. We expect the opposite.

For most, we tend to expect to get our energy from others before we look to ourselves. We read people, we read rooms, we read vibes – first. I’ll give you an example. I used to have on my calendar a daily reminder note that said: Ask myself in any situation “Do I feel Energised or Depleted.” I have since deleted that note because I realised; IT’S UP TO ME to feel; energised or depleted.

What if, you started with yourself FIRST. If you perceive yourself in a kind, caring, confident and loving way to watch how the world shifts for you. Take situations in your life where you’re feeling really good. You tend not to second guess yourself, you tend not to worry about what other people are thinking or saying. Now, take that same scenario where you’re not feeling good about yourself. Your confidence is low, you don’t feel put together, you’re feeling insecure and uncertain, you’re just not feeling it. You now perceive things much differently. You may be looking over at someone who’s looking at you and thinking; “What are you looking at?” And maybe they were just about to compliment you.

The energy that you get from yourself positions the way you feel about almost everything.

Depending on how you feel, will depend upon how you treat yourself and others. You may not necessarily be feeling the love all the time. You actually won’t. And yet, what you can do is work toward shifting your mindset – your self-talk.

Your self-talk creates your reality.

So, now flip the switch – and start by building your confidence – Yes, you need to develop your OWN confidence.

Here are 8 affirmations. Repeat this slowly. Ideally, every time you read one affirmation, raise your arms in the air like a victory pose. This exercise, repeated daily, will help to shift your mindset.

I am capable
I know who I am, and I am enough.
I choose to think thoughts that serve me well.
I choose to reach for a better feeling.
I share my happiness with those around me.
I feel energetic and alive.
I am confident.
Each step is taking me to where I want to be.

How do you feel? Lighter? Energised? More confident? Nothing at all?

Don’t give up. You’re worth it.

This time of year, more than any other is a time for reflection. It can also be a very stressful time. It’s this stress that has us spinning. This is why we need to look to ourselves. Rather than feel as though we are depleting our energy. PAUSE. Take a deep breath. You can and need to better understand your mindset. You need to ask yourself: How do I really WANT to feel?

The only way is to start, is by taking action. By not being afraid to discover who you really are. By being comfortable to be your authentic (real) self. Your strong self. Your confident self. Your loving self. Not easy if you haven’t taken the time to get to know yourself.

The reason why you may not “be there” yet. By that I mean, pull back the curtain to see that in fact, you are your own “Great and Wonderful best friend,” is because life gets in the way. You’re busy! “I don’t have time to really get to know myself!” And yet, you need to.

You need to better understand your mindset so that your actions reinforce how great you are. And not tug at your flaws. It’s easier to criticise than to compliment.

When you have opportunities to gather together with others, you have the opportunity to connect and inspire with others so that others can rise. In turn, you grow. You shine. You feel a better connection to yourself and others.

A sign that you’re beginning to take action is when you know you can begin to breathe within yourself. Trust yourself.

Once you gather your strength of being, it is then that WE all start to become stronger, together.

Today is that day.