Self-Love: A Key Element to Our Health & Happiness (that’s often overlooked!)

Her long blonde hair and big smile caught my eye right from the moment we met. I felt her watching me but never paid that much attention. I knew she purposefully brushed against me, moved in close or touched my hand at any opportunity that presented. I also knew she was 10 years older than me, my coworker and she had a boyfriend. 

Then it happened. I was putting away groceries in the basement fridge of the group home where we worked, when out of nowhere she pushed me up against the wall and kissed me. She then backed away and looked up at me with very flirtatious and mischievous eyes. I was immediately flooded with feelings of bliss, confusion and excitement. I felt… sexy, for the first time in my life. Sexy felt confident and certain. Something I rarely felt about myself or my sexuality up to that point. 

Whatever word you choose to use to signify feelings of confidence and certainty, it comes down to self-love. I believe self-love is wearing clothes that make you feel your best. Self-love is doing things not because you should but because you want to. It’s being confident and independent and not apologizing for doing so. It’s about practicing positive self-talk instead of self-criticism. And, it’s about letting your true colors shine through even if others don’t ‘get you’. 

Self-love is a learned behavior. Our family and those closest to us help or hinder our level of confidence, independence and self-esteem. The way we walk through the world is hugely dependent on that programming, and our actions are a direct representation of how we feel about ourselves. How attractive, intelligent, courageous, and self-assured we are stems from the amount of love we have for ourselves.

The most confusing and challenging years of my life were a result of my lack of self-love. 

Back in high school I could never understand my female teenage crushes, my lack of interest in house parties and dating boys, and my constant sense of being very different from my friends. It wasn’t until many years later that I realized I was gay. I just knew I was different but didn’t know why. Back then, what stood out for me was that being queer was wrong, weird and not something I wanted to be; at least, not in my small town. As a teenager living in a rural southern Ontario community in the 1990’s, in a then-homophobic home, I was afraid of what others would think or do if I expressed what I really felt.

So I did the only things I could do, I suppressed. I hid. I conformed. I kept all my deepest darkest feelings and emotions under wraps until the day came when I could no longer live inauthenticity. It just felt wrong. It felt suffocating. It made me feel sick both figuratively and literally. It was not a good use of my energy nor did it lend itself to health or happiness.

The time it took for acceptance from my family and friends was a process that I had to let happen; even though it felt long and painful. Although the journey of living honestly and with pride has not been an easy one, the good has far outweighed the bad. 

It was one of the most difficult times in my life but by making the decision to open-up I felt free and no longer felt suffocated. I stopped conforming to the box that others thought was right for me. I was finally free to wear the clothes I wanted, cut my hair short, play sports, weight train, and love women – all the while still being a great sister, daughter, and wife. Looking back on all my male relationships, aka “beard boyfriends”, I had broken up with, I really meant it when I told them “no really, it’s not you — it’s me!” 

I not only found my sexy that day in the basement, but I also let down my guard in an effort to embrace and love myself more. 

I’ve learned, after many years of peeling away the layers of self-doubt and uncertainty, that finding your sexy has to come from the inside. 

Sure, outside validation from others might feel exhilarating at first (like it did to me). It may even put you on a high. Although there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s important to recognize that self-love starts with you. I love the quote by the famous Drag Superstar, RuPaul: ‘If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else!’ This sums it up perfectly.

Self-love is having high regard for yourself, your health and happiness. It’s taking care of your needs without sacrificing the needs of others. It’s no longer people pleasing, always saying ‘YES’ even when your gut tells you otherwise. It’s letting go of outside validation in an attempt to feel complete or loved. 

I realize not everyone has a “coming out story” but you just might have aspects of yourself you keep hidden in the closet. Are there parts of you the world never sees because you’re scared of disapproval or judgment? Maybe parts of yourself that you’re still learning to admire. Would you love to join a gym, a sports team, a dance class, a tantric workshop or become part of a spiritual women’s circle but might never do it out of fear? 

The point of sharing my story openly is to encourage you to be your authentic self. Without honouring our true selves we end up unhappy, frustrated, depressed or constantly seeking validation and happiness from outside sources. The moment you take a look inside and embrace yourself for exactly who you are is the moment you become liberated. I tell you this from experience, over 20 years after coming out, I have more confidence, more passion for life, and feel far sexier in my body and mind, than I ever have before. My element of self-love is a constant work in progress but it’s something I’m willing to work on.

Does one area of your life or health feel out of balance? 

Take my short, free quiz to learn which of your elements of health you’ve got dialed and which areas could use a little more attention. Discover for yourself what your self-care synergy level is as well as easily implementable tools and strategies to move forth with vitality and joy. 

Go here: What’s Your Self-Care Synergy Level?