Do You Show Yourself Love?

The Greatness Together Podcast

Self-love is more than pampering or indulgence—it’s about cultivating kindness toward yourself. Inspired by Sarah’s recent yoga practice, this episode dives into what self-love truly means. During a yoga class focused on self-love, Sarah was guided to breathe in compliments and exhale criticisms. This intentional focus revealed a surprising truth: while compliments from others are frequent, truly accepting them is rare. So, what does self-love look like, and how can we practice it daily?

Quote of the Week:

“If you have a poor model of what a relationship should look like, you’re just going to mimic that in your own relationship.” Simonne McVanel

Greatness Together Podcast Highlights:

• Self-Love Uncovered: Are You Your Own Best Friend? 0:00
• The triangle of love. 2:30
• Self-love isn’t our focus. 5:00
• The seven different types of love. 8:00
• Channeling self-love. 13:00
• Take the compliment. 20:00
• The research is positive. 25:00
• It’s just a scratch… 28:00
• Next time: Does smiling do a body good? 33:01

Why Is Self-Love So Important?

Intentionally cultivating a mindset and practice of loving yourself isn’t trite, nor is it just a feel-good exercise; it has profound psychological and physical benefits. Positive psychology research shows that self-compassion can build resilience, improve mental health, and strengthen relationships.

During Sarah’s recent yoga practice, her teacher directed the class to focus on self-love. Not only did it help her endure 104-degree heat, but it also helped her balance and maintain her energy. Every breath - with deep meditative yoga breathing of in for four, out for five - Sarah would breathe in a compliment and out a criticism. She realized that kind words are always shared - after a keynote, from a friend, or even walking through the market (“That’s a nice colour on you”) - yet how often do they land? She thought she had made progress because she used to respond with a joke or disagree because accepting compliments was uncomfortable. (Sarah finds many audience members share this.) This mindful practice of taking in past compliments was transformative.

What Are the Benefits of Practicing Self-Love?

Self-love offers a range of benefits, from increased resilience to greater happiness. When we treat ourselves with compassion, we unlock new levels of energy, focus, and well-being. Sarah and Simonne discuss how embracing self-love can enhance your personal and professional life. Drawing on insights from positive psychology, this episode highlights why investing in self-love is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

Can Self-Love Make You Physically Healthier?

Self-love is good for your mind and body. Studies have found that self-compassion can reduce stress hormones and improve overall health. This can lower the risk of heart disease and improve long-term physical well-being. By prioritizing self-care, we create a positive ripple effect on our mental and physical health.

How Can You Start Practicing Self-Love Today?

Cultivating self-love doesn’t require a yoga mat or a 75-minute practice. In this episode, we share practical techniques to incorporate into your daily life, like reframing negative self-talk, practicing gratitude, and allowing compliments to land. With intentionality and mindfulness, you can transform how you treat yourself—and see the ripple effects in all areas of your life.

These insights stemmed from Sarah’s yoga class. If you’re unfamiliar with yoga, you might be interested in knowing that class is referred to as a “practice” because it emphasizes continuous learning and growth. This philosophy aligns perfectly with self-love, which is also a journey, not a destination. As you'll hear in this episode, Simonne is NOT keen on yoga; however, for Sarah, it’s become a non-negotiable aspect of her physical and mental fitness. Wherever yoga is, self-love can be more easily found. Whenever she needs to get grounded and wrestle her high-expectations inner critic to the ground, she goes to the mat. Hopefully, you’ll find your self-love true north in this episode.

Are you ready to consider how loving yourself might be nonnegotiable for you, too?

Greatness Together Podcast Links:

• Do you have high expectations?
• Curiosity Unleashed
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• Greatness Magnified
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