P&G Check-in: 15 February 2021 - 21 February 2021
Hello, wonderful people of the P&G Community !
The topic I propose for this Check-In is:
Self-Love as our guide in life
Love is a universal measure of the goodness of all the things we do.
Because of this, Self-Love can be used as our main guide to choosing what to do (or avoid), among the many alternatives that present to us.
We could chart our own path in life following "Self-Love" as the main indicator and aim to measure and choose among alternative routes.
While choosing, we could ask "Which way is the best expression of my Self-Love ?"
We prioritize activities that grow and expand love for ourselves.
Food could be a simple example, for which many rules and measures have been proposed: countless diets, calories, carbs, proteins, the weight we'll gain, pleasure, etc, etc.
Instead of asking about any of these, we could ask "Eating which food is the best way to love myself?"
We are over-informed about the other measures and data. They will naturally be part of the answer to this question. This "love question" uses all that information to make the best decision taking into account both immediate and longer-term consequences. Thus, we trust our feelings and intuitions, already informed by enough knowledge.
Most importantly, by framing our relationship with food (and everything else) in terms of love, we contribute to a "Living in Love" way of life.
We can acquire from our struggles in life the extremely valuable gift of "Living in Self-Love", and avoid the prevailing toxic and false model of "happy and successful" no-problems people that is sold to us by massive advertising.
Note: For delving deeply into how our struggles in life lead to a life of Love, I suggest you reading Chapter 1 "A Story" and Chapter 7 "Attune to Love" of the book "7 Cups for the Searching Soul". You can get it HERE )
Let’s live a life of Love !
Questions
- How are you feeling today ?
- What things that you do are expressions of self-love ?
I look forward to your comments, and wish you all the best !
Marcelo.
@WelcomeToChat
I absolutely love this thread post! Self-love is something I struggle with at times but I guess we all do. And the way you presented it as a way to make decisions is so amazing! We're presented with so many alternatives everyday and choosing which one of them would be the best expression for the love for ourselves is so simple... And I bet it would lead to long-term satisfaction since we'd take into account all the consequences and all that for ourselves. Thank you for sharing this!
- How are you feeling today ?
I'm feeling alright today. Could be better but I'm just trying to get through everyday for now. Have lots of things to do and hence been fairly busy, wish I can catch a break soon. "What will be the best expression of self-love for me in this situation?" "maybe not be too hard on myself and try to better manage my time. Slow down when I need to and just be okie."
- What things that you do are expressions of self-love ?
🎀 Take time when I need to unwind and be unavailable at times.
🎀 Take some time out to watch my favourite anime or listen to songs when I'm feeling stressed.
🎀 Saying no to things I think I'll not have energy for.
🎀 Saying yes to meet with friends even though I might be feeling low because I know I'll feel better once I do meet them.
@lumieremilkyway
Dear Lumie:
Thank you for the compliments, they mean a lot to me, coming from you.
Thank you also for taking the time to go conscientiously through all and every idea of my posts, and giving me a thoughtful feedback for each concept.
I think we need a simple "metric" for effective and good decision-making in our lives, and I honestly think that Self-Love, well understood, synthesizes well a set of the values that have to be considered in making those decisions.
You seem very conscientious and demanding to yourself, with very high standards of performance.
Maybe you could include taking breaks, not only as being good to yourself, but also as part of your routine to achieve a lot of high-quality work. (which would fit with your highly driven personality).
As Stephen Covey said, to achieve the best results, we have to stop every now and then to "sharpen the saw". He tells the parable of a logger that doesn't stop to sharpen his saw, and (with the idea of not wasting time and doing more work) continues sawing with a dull saw, thus getting exhausted and not doing his job well and in time.
So you could think of those breaks also as a necessary condition for doing a lot of high-quality work
Your self-love practices are very honest with yourself, realistic, down-to-earth, and they look very authentic.
You have the gift of translating concepts into very practical and effective practices, and not just nebulous ideas.
Which informs also your articles, and give them that characteristic well-based usefulness, which is a distinctive feature of your writing.
Thank you again for checking in !
All the best,
Marcelo.
I am feeling good today. Our family was having some issues with one of my sisters for not helping out in taking care of my mom, but she eventually came around and has spent a few days with her. I’m learning to remember this isn’t the time for everyone to turn on each other, and we need to be there more than ever for her. — Some things that I do that is an expression of self love, is taking a break. When I was in college I had 2 jobs and was in school. I was paying rent and bills and at the same time trying to help my family out with whatever they needed. Since this pandemic hit, it has been the first time I’ve been able to actually relax and breathe and just take a break. Another one is developing healthy habits in the morning like drinking water, reading, and meditation.
@Onlyonefollower
Hi !
I am glad conflicts in your family have been ironed out. They are such a disheartening source of stress and discomfort... We are supposed to love and do our best for each other in our family !
I wish the best to your mom.
We do need to take a break from time to time. Not only to rest, but also to revisit the baseline of no-stress calm, which we always should try to remember, and get back to while active.
Starting with mindful and healthy activities in the morning is great because it sets the standard for what we wish for the rest of our day.
Thank you for checking in !
All the best !
Marcelo.
@WelcomeToChat thank you, marcelo 
I am exhausted.
I express self love through gratitude and self care.
@lovelyWhisper66
Dear Whisper:
You need to rest and take care of yourself ! Make it a priority !
It is a great achievement that Gratitude has become an expression of Self-Love to you.
This is characteristic of a highly developed person, I think.
I congratulate you for that !
Thank you for checking in !
All the best,
Marcelo.
Doing alright but could be better. To express self love these days, l excercise and count my blessings.
@easyRaspberries164
Alright is enough.
The search for perfection in wellbeing is a recipe for dissatisfaction.
Contentment, feeling that things are "good enough", is a better goal than 100% happy, I think.
If you regularly exercise and count your blessings, you must be in the 5% best practitioners of self-care and Self Love !
Those are the most potent practices but, for most people, difficult to establish as consistent habits.
You are great !
Congratulations !
All the best,
Marcelo.
Thank you. Glad to hear l am not doing badly.
@easyRaspberries164
Hey ! You are doing great !
Keep in touch !
Marcelo.
@WelcomeToChat
I'm feeling okay but a little tired, the way I show self love is by doing self care, keeping on top of my skincare routine and watching a film 😊
@Aledge98
I'm glad you feel well !
We all need to take rest seriously. It is so difficult nowadays... We live in a culture that conspires against it in so many ways...
And being a mother of young children, I imagine that it must be particularly challenging.
But very important at the same time.
As they say in the airplanes "In case of decompression, if you have small children, put your oxygen mask first !".
You really know how to express love to yourself !
And this is a very good thing.
Loving yourself first, better helps you express love to your children.
As the Sufi poet Rumi said, "Never give from the depths of your well, but from your overflow."
I wish you all the best !
Keep in touch !
Marcelo.
@WelcomeToChat Thank you I appreciate it
@Aledge98
You are much welcome !
Marcelo
Hi Marcelo, 👋 I'm happy to read your post... it's awesome, thank you. ☺ 1. How am I feeling today ? I'm feeling proud of myself right now because I despite a challenging evening and morning I took a few hours today and focused on my personal care rather than letting negativity knock me down and further the spiral of not caring for myself. 2. What things have I done today to express self love? Even though I didn't need it I decided to take the time with a fun, washable hair dye... not a big deal but it was a step for me in taking action and caring for myself. I've sent text messages reaching out to friends, made some phone calls, and focused on God's word to lift me up. Have a nice day, night, and weekend. 😊
@fearlessNickel4472
Hi !
Nice to see you again !
Thank you for your compliments !
What you tell of taking control, and focusing your mind on your self-defined priorities, is a tremendously valuable skill.
Very few people accomplish it.
It will help you a lot in life.
Congratulations for that !
It's great how your way of taking care of yourself is so comprehensive, from small fun things, to keeping a consistent spiritual practice.
I admire you for this !
You are great !
Keep being like that !
And keep in touch...
All the best,
Marcelo.
Thank you Marcelo 👋 until I see you next time on here.
@WelcomeToChat
Questions
- How are you feeling today ?
*I have definitely felt worse, unfortunately I've also felt better. There are currently like 7 things that I am currently dealing with ranging from trying to discover where my dead cousin was buried after a welfare check was conducted to finding out I may have Ehlers-Danlos and more in between.
- What things that you do are expressions of self-love ?
*Admittedly, this is something I've been forgetting/ignoring, I'm honestly not sure which. I realized it yesterday, thanks to my husband informing me, I haven't been completely "all there" so to speak because I am trying to figure out everything else. He's right, though, so today I went to an outdoor yoga class and this afternoon my mother-in-law and I went shopping. It definitely helped me feel a little better, especially because I got some cute new face masks. It's getting to the point where I've started treating them like accessories that can save my life because I don't see them going "out of style" lol anytime soon, sadly
@K87
Hello !
I am sorry that you are going through so many troubles.
I wish you all the luck in the world, that you can finally sort these things out in the best possible way.
I am glad your husband made you conscious that you had been neglecting yourself, and that you immediately took the initiative to take care of yourself.
This is great in itself, because you are a valuable person, who deserves a gratifying life.
It is also particularly important when you have to deal with such a lot of issues on many fronts, so to do it with a clearer mind, and thus most effectively.
Your choice of self-care activities is so lovely, it expresses a genuine love for yourself.
I congratulate you on that !
I wish you all the best.
Keep in touch !
Marcelo.
@WelcomeToChat
- How are you feeling today ?
Feeling great, today. Hope it's the same for you, too.
- What things that you do are expressions of self-love ?
1. A long walk
2. Meditation
3. Good food.
@alphav7
Thank you for participating in this check-in !
I am glad you are feeling so well !
Your ways of expressing self-love show you are a very wise, highly evolved person.
I admire you, and congratulate you for that !
All the best !
Keep in touch,
Marcelo.
- How are you feeling today ?
I'm hanging in there. I wish it was warmer so I could go for a walk. I need cook and write today.
- What things that you do are expressions of self-love ?
writing, coloring, taking a shower, going for a walk, mediating, and praying for yourself.
I've been working on Self love for a few months now.
@Rebekahwriter13
Dear Rebeka:
How nice, and what a privilege that you are a professional writer ! Many people like to write but very few can make a living out of writing...
It's great how your ways of taking care of yourself are so comprehensive, including all levels of your being.
From very peaceful and focused activities like coloring, to promoting relaxing body sensations with a shower, to moderate physical exercise. And spiritual practices like meditation and prayer.
It's great that you are working systematically on Self-Love. I suppose that all these so well-balanced practices are related to your Self-Love work.
I wish you that all the energy you put into these practices fructifies in a more peaceful, harmonious and happy life.
All the best !
Marcelo.
@WelcomeToChat
Yeah I have been trying to push "Self-love" as this the theme for my year. I understand you need to care for each other, but it's like being on a plane, you need to get the oxygen mask on before you help others. I'm learning you need to learn to love and accpet before you can truly love others the way that they need.
@Rebekahwriter13
