Redefining Self-Love Series: 5 Ways To Practice Self-Love (Part 1) | Boone, NC Photographer

I feel like I've been on a looping roller coaster of emotion these past few weeks as I have delved more deeply into this self-imposed journey of redefining self-love. The whole idea of “loving myself more” makes me feel slightly squeamish because, let's face it, I don't know what the heck I'm doing or how I’m supposed to be doing it, but I'm willing to give it a try for longer than a mere trial period. What’s the worst that could happen?!

I'm starting to realize that it's not a matter of whether or not I have lost love for myself, the truth is that everything I need is already a part of my inner being. Yup, that sounds cheesy as hell but it's true!

While nothing in our external world can help us to reclaim self-love since it can't, technically, be lost, there are some sneaky and unexpected ways to bring those warm and fuzzy feelings into your everyday life more frequently.

Below are “5 Ways To Practice Self-Love This Spring.” It was 25 ways but I had to dwindle my list down so the blog post wasn't too long-winded! I’ll share the other suggestions I was planning to elaborate on in a Part 2 & 3 of the Redefining Self-Love Series.

Aster from my archives taken 2009

1 » LEARN TO SEE BEAUTY EVERYWHERE

When you make an effort to witness beauty in all things, you will, undoubtedly, see bounteous beauty in yourself. Seeing our own beauty might be downright difficult at times, but once you raise your awareness to notice the everyday beauty that already surrounds you in your life, it will inevitably spill over onto YOU in the process!

BONUS POINTS if you keep track of the beauty you witnessed throughout the day/week whether you do so with words in a gratitude journal or capture it using whatever photographic device you have handy.

Valentines's Day Daisies from my archives taken 2009

2 » SCRUTINIZE YOUR INSECURITIES

A lack of confidence can severely stall our ability to take action. I know firsthand what self-doubt can do to deter you from moving in a meaningful direction. It’s paralyzing at times! Those seemingly inconsequential setbacks can be detrimental to your drive and determination. Next time, try sitting with and questioning those insecurities as they emerge instead of trying to suppress those ornery thoughts. It's a great way to banish the control those limiting beliefs have over you almost instantly!

BONUS POINTS if you talk it out with an understanding friend. Reaching out to someone and asking for help might cause you to feel vulnerable, but that’s what friends are for, right?!

3 » DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR SOMEONE ELSE

Speaking of friends...It may seem counter intuitive to practice self-love by being a good samaritan, but I can assure you that the kindness displayed will work wonders for your innermost self even though it’s for someone else. Once you are in a more loving and giving state this will open you up to receiving love. Not just from others but from yourself, too!

BONUS POINTS if this happens to be a random act of kindness. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, something small but meaningful will do. I left a handwritten note with no signature on a strangers car that said, “Just in case no one has told you lately, YOU’RE AWESOMAZING!” What you do for someone else doesn’t always need to be known or recognized. Secretly brightening someone else’s day will do nothing but create heartwarming feelings all around!

[RELATED ARTICLE] Redefining Self-Love With Celebrate You Sessions. Click Here To Read Article » http://bit.ly/lfKPpNW «

4 » WRITE A LOVE LETTER TO YOURSELF

Don't wait to receive one from someone else, write your own love letter! It can be as complex or simple as you would like. One of the most impactful notes I possess is from 2009, and it's a simple postcard I sent back home for myself while I was on a solo, birthday trip to Hawaii. To this day, I can still read what I wrote and feel instant love and compassion for myself and the journey I'm on—that trip changed the course of my life and I'm so grateful to have that priceless memento!

BONUS POINTS if you put pen to paper and pop it in the mail! No, really, mail it to yourself. It’s fun!

5 » NOURISH YOUR BODY

Something that can largely go unnoticed during turbulent times is our overall well-being. Are you moving your body by exercising, eating wholesome foods, and hydrating properly?! It sounds simple enough but it can easily be overlooked during moments when we are experiencing a lack of self-love. When I am not faithfully sticking to my daily yoga & meditation practice, slip-ups occur and my sanity goes berserk! Same goes for not creating & sticking to a weekly meal plan. When I'm not cooking meals in the evenings using healthful ingredients, we tend to rely on the quick and greasy tidbits found at a fast food drive-thru. It's enjoyable at the time but you feel dreadful later. Practice self-love by being sensible about what you're putting into and how you’re treating your body, it really is that straightforward!

Valentines's Day Daisies from my archives taken 2009

These observations are coming from what I believe to be common themes that can oftentimes hinder our ability to experience an abundance of self-love. I'm feeling inspired to embody a state of being that consistently and intentionally exudes self-love so that I may be a positive influence on those that come in contact with me.

I'm hoping that all 5 ways to practice self-love listed here will encourage you to take action in the name of self-love today. Not a week from now. Not later this year. TODAY! Take small steps if you need to and choose one or two things to focus on in the next week so that you can make self-love a priority along with me!

If you'd like to read more details about what inspired me to make REDEFINING SELF-LOVE my mission, read this post » http://bit.ly.lfKPpNW «

Follow along with this series by subscribing to my weekly updates HERE, “like” the Wayfaring Wanderer Facebook page to get connected, and be on the lookout for the Redefining Self- Love Series Event on FB to be notified when new missions are posted! Redefining Self-Love starts within but having support really helps! Who’s with me?!

I’d love to know how you’re planning to practice self-love this week even if you don't plan to use any of these tips! Please share what steps you’re taking in the comment section! I’d love to hear from you! Coming next week: 5 (More) Ways To Practice Self-Love (Part 2) and a CELEBRATE YOU SESSION GIVEAWAY!

Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone | Boone, NC Wedding Photographer

If you scour my yearbooks from 6th grade until my senior year in high school, you will only find my photo in two yearbooks. I used to go to great lengths to avoid having my picture taken when I was younger. I remember going to extremes in order to miss picture day, from faking sick to skipping school, I would do anything to get out of it! I hated the way that I looked in photographs.

NOT LIKING IMAGES OF OURSELVES IS UNIVERSAL
I can't tell you how many times I've heard from clients and friends that they “take horrible photos” or that they “never look good in pictures.” It pains me to hear that because I know how that feels all too well. And it's still something I battled with today. Still, no matter how much we despise it, people insist on doing it anyway! You end up submitting only because there's that thought in the back of your mind (maybe subconsciously) that you'll regret not having physical proof of who you are today to look back on.

BLAME IT ON SCIENCE

Come to find out, there may be a perfectly logical explanation for why we don't like seeing ourselves in 2D. Based on something called the Mere-Exposure Effect we like things that are familiar to us. You see, we're used to viewing a mirror reflection of ourselves, and when we are photographed that mental image is then flipped which plays mind-games on our brains. Maybe it's not that we don't like what we see in the image of ourselves, maybe it's just weird because we're not used to seeing ourselves in that way?!

PUSHING MYSELF OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE

Now that you know my secret about going to ridiculous measures in order to avoid having my picture taken, you get that I can sympathize with you because I've been where you are. However, I recently stepped on the other side of the camera to experience firsthand what it's like for my clients. I'll be honest, I felt awkward at first because I had no clue what I was doing even though I direct my clients all the time. Once I was on the receiving end I sort of froze up, and just made a lot of funny faces to make up for my lack of modeling skills! Exposing myself in that way had me feeling extremely vulnerable but it was also a very freeing experience, too.

My lovely assistant/intern/mentee, Raejan, captured these images of me. She is an aspiring photographer so this was new for her, too, but we had a blast, and It wasn't so scary after all!

HOW YOU CAN LOOK YOUR BEST IN PHOTOS

Relax! And act “normal.” In other words, be yourself! You don't have to be a supermodel in order for your photographer to get great shots. Besides, having your photos made is about more than just the way you look. No one is less photogenic because they don't fit the mold of what some folks in society thinks is beautiful. We are all worthy of having our stories told! It's a matter of trusting the person behind the lens to tell yours in a way that is authentic to you. When you're comfortable and having fun your personality naturally shines!

So, tell me, how do you feel about having your picture taken?! Love it? Hate it? Let me know here in the comments or on WW FB page!

If facing your fears and being liberated by an uplifting experience that will leave you feeling like a gazillion bucks sounds like a good time, then you'll love the Limited Edition Celebrate You Sessions I am offering to welcome the awakening of SPRING! The unforgettable experience I'm offering is about CELEBRATING YOU and who you are right now, today. You'll have fun, walk away feeling more confident and beautiful, and you'll also have some gorgeous images of yourself captured that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy! 

It's time to redefine self-love. Click here to find out why: 

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Redefining Self-Love w/ Celebrate You Sessions | Boone, NC Photographer

I sought out the definition of self-love recently just because I was curious, and I was astonished to see how it was defined. To give you a quick idea of what I discovered, here are a few synonyms for Self-Love: conceit, narcissism, and vanity.

Not what I expected AT ALL! I was somewhat irked by my findings because self-love is something that I struggle with in my life (or so I thought), and it was unsettling to think that the actual meaning of self-love is contradictory to what I truly desire.

I've since decided to redefine self-love because embodying that state-of-being is not tied to what the dictionary tells me to believe. How do you define self-love?!

Celebrate You Session Coming April 1st, 2014

Here's what I know: everyone suffers from self-image issues. Me. You. Your next door neighbor. Your colleagues. EVERYONE!

I've come to the conclusion that the difference between self-image issues and an abundance of self-love is confidence. There comes a time when we need to ignore our inner critic, that menacing voice inside our head that whispers, “You're not good enough.”

Confidence can be a fragile thing. 

It can come flooding in one moment and stripped from you with a well-intentioned but hate-laced comment the next. I'm continually amazed at how quickly that can be destroyed if I'm not mindful enough to combat such thoughts. 

While it can be damaging in some cases, it's all part of life's many struggles. Our challenges are what help us grow and evolve into better versions of ourselves. Otherwise, we stay the same and stagnate.

Something to remember while you're on this journey is that you are worth far more than the opinion of others. Don't let others define you. And don't get caught up in their definitions of what's beautiful and what's not. A healthy self-image starts within.

Ask yourself: “Are these thoughts, self-doubts, criticisms, etc. really true?” Look that devil straight in the eye and face those demons because you have to make the decision to not let those trolls take over whether they're internal or external. Little by little, you release the power that it has over you and your flaws become your strengths.

Choose to be happy with who you are, really own it so that you can experience what it feels like to be vulnerable in all its glory. Have the courage to let yourself be seen. Leave your insecurities at the door. Have fun!

Raejan on the Greenway Trail in Boone, NC

If facing your fears and being liberated by an uplifting experience that will leave you feeling like a gazillion bucks sounds like a good time, then you'll love the Limited Edition Celebrate You Sessions I am offering to welcome the awakening of SPRING! 

Who's ready to start fresh?!

The unforgettable experience I'm offering is about CELEBRATING YOU and who you are right now, today. You'll have fun, walk away feeling more confident and beautiful, and you'll also have some gorgeous images of yourself captured that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy!

Celebrate You Sessions include: 

• 1-hour session for 1 person on-location in Boone, NC 
• up to 10 hi-resolution digital downloads w/ printing rights
• a website and smartphone app to quickly and easily share images with friends and family 
• ALL for $299 + tax.

If you're interested in booking your exclusive Celebrate You Session or for more details, simply send me an email at wayfaringwanderer@gmail.com and I'll get you on the schedule! | www.wayfaringwanderer.com

If you know a Mother, Wife, BFF, Sister, Mentor, etc. who could benefit from a life-changing experience such as this, please help spread the word by sharing with them! Thank you! 

Can you share your thoughts on this new offering? Does it sound like something you want to do? I'd love to get your feedback here in the comments or on the WW Facebook page!