Self-Love Tips: July 2009 Archives

There are sources of pure love all over this planet - babies, animals, flowers, trees, stars - that you can use to let love into your heart, and experience the high that comes with feeling pure love. Taking in a hit of pure love is an instant way to expand your love quotient.

Love Fact: Experiencing pure love goes right through your protection layers to open up your heart, which ultimately lets more love in

What you need:
1. a list of pure love sources
2. a heightened awareness of the love sources that are right in front of your face every day
3. a willingness to take a pause during your 'busy' day to feel the love from the pure love source

The actions:
1. Make a list of 10 sources of pure love. These are the most innocent, non-threatening things on the planet to you, which make you smile or warm your heart. See the list below for some starter ideas.
2. Carry the list with you and every day make it a point to notice when one of these pure love sources appears.
3. When a pure love source appears, literally stop what you are doing and connect with it by:
4. Imagine letting the love into your heart.
5. Actually feel your heart expand.
6. Smile.
7. Feel your love quotient expand.
8. Say thank you.
9. Go forward into your day with gratitude for experiencing that pure love.

Pure Love Sources
1. Babies
2. Puppies and Dogs
3. Kittens and Cats
4. Okay, any animal other than those that scare you
5. Flowers and plants - seriously, look at how beautiful and perfect a flower is sometime
6. Trees
7. A hug
8. A person skipping
9. The ocean
10. Stars
11. The moon
12. Blowing bubbles
13. Dark chocolate savored while eating (who could argue?)

Zany, yet proven,
Love Tip #21:
Date Yourself

Some people say they date or marry their best friend. What if that person was best friend #2, and you were best friend #1?

Love Fact: The fastest way to becoming your own best friend is to spend time with her, lots of it.  You'll learn more about yourself than you ever knew.

What you need:
1. ideas for dates, things that you would really love to do
2. a willingness to do them alone, even if that means people stare at you, feel sorry for you or put their weirdo judgments on you
3. a force field against such people (listen if you are eating alone at a spendy romantic restaurant out of choice, who cares what they think!)

The actions:
First steps:
1. Make a list of 10 places you want to go, activities you want to try, events you want to attend over the next 6 months.
2. Pick three to start with - one that's easy, one that's exciting, and one that seems a little scary or weird to do on your own.
3. Schedule the actual dates with yourself and put them on the calendar.

Pre Dates:
4. Take any action required to make the date happen, just like a good date would.

Day of Dates:
5. Prepare for the date like you would if someone was picking you up. Look your best. Feel your best. Dance around your living room.
6. Be with yourself completely. Not on the blackberry, cell phone or computer. Treat yourself like you would expect a date to treat you. How would you feel if they started texting during dinner?
7. Talk to yourself, out loud or silently. Notice what you like, dislike. Smile at your quirks.
8. Do the little things that are going to make you happy. Buy dessert and share it with yourself. Pay extra for a better seat.

Post Dates:
9. Come home, put your favorite jammies on, make some tea and turn on some soul happy music. (recommended India Arie)
10. Journal about your date. What did you love? What did you learn?
11. Go to sleep happy knowing that you really are a fantastic woman!


Tip testimonial:
I actually went out on a date with myself today like you suggested in your book.  It did feel awkward but I will get the hang of it the more I do it... it is the best therapy I have ever received!   -- Val


For more great ideas on how to fall even more in love with yourself, get a free Madly in Love with ME Kit at http://madlyinlovewithme.com

Zany, yet proven
Love Tip #18:  The Self-Love Serenade
Inspired by Amy from California

"On the way home from work, I started discussing (with myself) all the reasons I love Amy.  It was not exactly the same as the repetition, but saying all the reasons out loud felt great. By the end of my drive I was in tears. I realized that no other person I encounter in this life will ever be able to know or love all of me, not all of my years or stories or scars.  Not one other person will be able to appreciate everything it's taken to become exactly who I am right now. I found hundreds of reasons to love myself, and the only person who really could know them all or even NEEDS to know them all - is me.  It was a very powerful and  pivotal moment, completely shifting my beliefs about loving myself - I realized I was just scratching the surface."  -- Amy

The Self-Love Serenade:
It may sound a little crazy, but it's guaranteed to bring you love...


Love Fact: You've gotta know and own what you love about you!

What you need:
1. 30 minutes free from all other distractions
2. 30 minutes alone

The action:
1. Turn off all electronic devices - that means for real off.
2. Tell everyone else to go away - so take a walk, a drive, a bath, just do it alone
3. Start a conversation with yourself by saying, "Hi <insert name>. I am dying to know what you love about me. Can we talk?"
4. Begin saying out loud all the reasons you love you. "I love me because..." or "What I love about me is..." Say it, proclaim it, even sing it. 
5. Keep saying what you love about you until you feel some kind of breakthrough - you cry, your heart opens up, you laugh, something that indicates you are letting the love in.
6. Stop and let the love in. Feel how much you really do love you, and feel how much that love has to start with you.


If you are ready to fall even more in love with YOU, then visit the #1 self-love site this side of the internet and get your free Madly in Love with ME Guide, full of zany, yet proven, Love Tips, Love Adventures and Love Inspirations.  www.madlyinlovewithme.com