Self Love
One of the best investments you can ever make in life is investing in yourself. Self-love is the best form of love you can receive. Doing so doesn’t just mean buying yourself nice things, treating yourself to the latest fashion trends, or keeping up with the hottest cars on the market. Investing in yourself can simply mean getting to know who you are at your core – your likes, dislikes, and triggers – in addition to maintaining good mental health.
May is Mental Health Awareness month, one of the most important, yet overlooked forms of healthcare. Unfortunately, mental health can be a touchy topic, one that people shy away from discussing far too often. For one, many people are afraid to speak transparently about their struggles with mental health because of the associated stigma. They are afraid of being judged or labeled. Some people believe the only type of disorders are bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression and that if you receive any type of treatment, like therapy or medication, you are crazy. Some even perceive receiving treatment as being weak. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. There are numerous types of mental health disorders, and they stem from several things. They stem from different life experiences, such as losing a job, a failed relationship, losing a loved one, and STRESS. The first step to fixing a problem is recognizing and admitting that one exists. Taking that next step and receiving treatment doesn’t make you crazy nor weak. I truly believe that it’s one of the most courageous things a person can do.
Another reason people tend to shy away from talking about mental health is because of their cultural or religious backgrounds, especially in the Black community. Many believe that therapy goes against their religion, that you’re supposed to pray about everything, and not just tell anyone your business. Several people live by the motto, “what happens in this house stays in this house”, and as a result, we’ve only learned to sweep the issues of life under the rug. In my eyes, that only leads to unresolved problems. I wholeheartedly believe in praying; however, I also believe that it’s okay to receive treatment for mental health concerns. The beauty of receiving treatment is that it doesn’t always have to be medical. Sometimes it’s as simple as opening up to a friend, family member, or another trusted confidant. We don’t always realize how venting and pouring out our feelings can improve our daily lives. I know it’s easier said than done though.
This is an area in which I have and continue to struggle. I’ve always been the person who was afraid to ask for help. I believed I had too many problems to burden someone with my emotional needs. I mean, I am already in a position where I am constantly asking for help, so anything that didn’t require physical assistance, I dealt with alone. I’ve slowly come to realize that it’s ok to not be ok and that tending to my well-being doesn’t always have to be medical. Treatment is simply protecting your peace and doing whatever makes you happy.
As you learn to practice self-love, which starts with taking care of yourself from the inside out, remember to extend grace to those around you. Someone can look fine on the outside but be crumbling to pieces on the inside. Remember to treat others the way you want to be treated. You never know how much a simple “hello” can change the trajectory of a person’s day. When love is poured inwardly, we are more equipped to pour it back out.