5 Ways to Practice Self-Love (Part 2) | Redefining Self-Love Series | Boone, NC Photographer

I can't tell you how big of a hypocrite I feel like writing about self-love. I'm only a few posts into it and I already want to abandon this project altogether because I don't know what the hell I'm doing! That's the fear talking. Those are the doubts that are creeping through the backdoor of my brain trying to shut me down, and I can't say that I haven't been close to allowing that to happen.

Who cares whether or not I know what I'm doing?! This personal experiment has been fun, albeit trying at times as I attempt to turn this practice into a daily habit. While some steps have been a lot harder to handle emotionally and mentally than others, this journey to redefine self-love is something that I will continue. For now, I'll keep sharing my experience with you here on the blog because...

Self-love is something that a lot of us need more of as I have learned by observing other peoples behavior along with my own.

My thoughts are that if I feel like I need more support, encouragement, and inspiration in my life that I need to be that for other people, so this is why I am sticking to this mission, not just for myself but also for others who could use more self-love in their lives, too!

The "Redefining Self-Love Series" is still in full effect and I have been doing what I can to continue practicing self-love for myself on a daily basis. A couple weeks ago I shared Part 1 of "5 Ways To Practice Self-Love" and I've been implementing the steps which I will share about next week if you’re interested (let me know in the comments, if so); however, this part 2 offers 5 (More) Ways To Practice Self-Love that I've been using along with the other tips that I shared in my previous post. Below is a recap as an infographic I put together so that you can quickly scan what we've already touched on so far.

All of the items I've highlighted in Part 1 & 2 aren't something you DO and then you're DONE, these are all meant to be practiced repeatedly! Taking action using any one of these ten easy tips is the first step to breaking crooked patterns we can unknowingly become comfortable with. It's time to REDEFINE SELF-LOVE! Who's with me?!

Below are 5 Ways To Practice Self-Love:

TRY NEW THINGS

Do something that you haven't done before, something that you think would be fun, something that you think might be interesting, or something that you think will help you learn or grow. Find an event or class that intrigues you, maybe you've wanted to try it for a while but have just made excuses not to. Finally take the time to give it a try this month. Make a plan, pick out a class/workshop/etc., find a sitter if you have kiddos, and commit to doing it! Trying new things is what helps us expand beyond our current routines so that we open ourselves up to new and exciting experiences that we might not have otherwise.

Bonus Points if you do this alone. Yep, don't ask your BFF to join you. This is another way to really hone your self-love skills so that you're pushing yourself outside your comfort zone even further. 

STOP NEGATIVE SELF-TALK

I am guilty of toxic thoughts. I have to constantly flip ugly inner dialog into something more positive and uplifting. Once I realize it's happening, I can snap myself out of it fairly quickly by questioning my harsh, inner-critic. "Wait a second! Is this really true?" It would also help to think about it in terms of how you talk to friends or family, if you wouldn't say those things to someone else why would you say/think them to yourself? You deserve just as much kindness as you show others!

Bonus Points if you write it out in your journal. Writing is therapeutic, especially when used to have a conversation with your sabotage goblin. Seriously, question yourself…in writing!

Related Article: "When I started to think about food as love, then I automatically began eating a healthier diet and in turn, kicked some pretty bad habits and lost over 40 lbs." [...] 5 Ways To Love Yourself With Food from Leah (Certified Health Coach) owner of Deep Rooted Wellness. L I N K » http://bit.ly/1mifA4v

MOVE TO THE MUSIC

I don't spend enough time listening to music nearly enough during the week. Most of the time I'm listening to music if I am cooking dinner or taking a shower; however, I don't typically listen to music while I'm working at my computer because it doesn't help me to focus like other methods I use. This is why I want to implement mini dance parties on a daily basis. Set an alarm for any time once a day, pick out your favorite song, and shake dat booty! I guarantee that you will be laughing and smiling by the end of your three-minute dance break!

Bonus Points if you are brave enough to make a goofy video of you dancing like a crazy person and share it with me on the Wayfaring Wanderer Facebook Page!

BE AFRAID BUT DO IT ANYWAY

There are lots of things that I hesitate doing because I'm scared. Really. What's the worst that could happen? Even though the idea of doing something—whatever it is—terrifies you, just do it anyway! As long as it's not hazardous to your health, of course. Unless that's how you get your kicks then it's perfectly fine with me whatever you choose to do as long as you're being safe while doing it!

Bonus Points if this is something you've put off doing for longer than a year. Aren't you ready to get this off your plate or put the project in motion?! Start today! Just one step a day will make all the difference.

SAY I LOVE YOU (TO YOURSELF)

Now this will definitely feel a little weird when you start doing it. I know I felt kind of odd when I uttered these words to my reflection. But I started this a couple months ago and I've been doing it ever since. So, every time I see my reflection whether it's in the mirror or the side of a tea kettle, I always stop and look myself in the eye, take a deep breath, smile, and say I LOVE YOU! Like I said, it seems silly and you will probably feel as such, but it's a wonderful practice to put into place to be more present and practice self-love at the same time.

Bonus Points if you take a picture of yourself (from whenever) and put it in a place where you can see it everyday so that you can do the same self-love practice even if you don't happen to see your reflection!

This concludes Part 2 of "5 Ways To Practice Self-Love." I hope that some of these tips may prove useful in your quest to embody more self-love. I'll be sharing a behind the scenes look into my mentally challenging journey of redefining self-love and the first-hand experience I've had with practicing these tips next week, so stay tuned! To be notified when new Redefining Self-Love posts are available, sign-up for updates from Wayfaring Wanderer HERE and “LIKE” the Wayfaring Wanderer Facebook page to get connected!

Have you tried any of the tips from the Redefining Self-Love Series yet?! Is there one you'd like to try?! Join the conversation in the comment section and let me know! I'd love to hear from you! 

Hi! My name is Jessica a.k.a. Wayfaring Wanderer and I reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains here in Boone, NC. I'm a free-spirited wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photographer who loves working with couples, families, and individuals who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to join the WW tribe by signing up [ HERE ] for somewhat weekly updates & get connected to the [ WW Facebook page ] to join the conversation! | Website www.wayfaringwanderer.com

{ RELATED LINKS }

» 5 Ways To Practice Self-Love (Part 1)

» Food As Love: 5 Ways to Love Yourself w/ Food

» Redefining Self-Love w/ Celebrate You Sessions

Logen & Nick's "First Date" Session in Downtown West Jefferson | Boone, NC LGBT Friendly Engagement Photographer

Our loud whispers could be heard throughout the quiet library. The three of us did our best to keep it down to a murmur but the giggles could not be contained. I had so much fun with Logen and Nick while photographing their engagement session. We had a phenomenal time gallivanting around West Jefferson, NC to re-create their first date!

The photography session began at the Ashe County Public Library where they hung out for a while and scanned the selection of comic books they had on hand. They both softly cheered upon finding a stash of “Attack on Titan” graphic novels because it's one of Nick's favorite series!

We even ventured upstairs to catch a quick glimpse at the reference materials because Nick also has a penchant for airplanes and the pilot Amelia Earhart. After spending some time goofing off at the local library, we decided to take a stroll in the historic section of downtown West Jefferson.

It was such a gorgeous day. The sun was shining and a light breeze was gently blowing, so a slow saunter around this small town was rather pleasant on this particular evening.

We walked up and down the main strip, perusing a few different storefronts—and the movie theater since these two are major film fans—along the way before ending up at Good Ole Days Ice Cream Shop. This is another special place where their budding romance began because they stopped in here for some refreshment and a reprieve from the summer heat during their first date.

"Krazy Kolors" was their flavor of choice to share, which I thought was pretty funny because it turns your mouth and teeth bright blue! I jokingly warned them that I wouldn't be photoshopping the color of their kissers later because it's not my fault they picked out that Smurf-colored sweet treat! hahaha

Back in the day when I ate this same creamy concoction it was called Superman and was one of my favorite flavors (along with Bubble Gum that had actual pieces of rainbow-colored bubble gum in it)! The fact that it turned my whole mouth blue was one of the reasons why I loved it as a kid! After the engagement session was over, I went back to the ice cream shop so that I could decompress with a scrumptious scoop of my own. It was too tempting to resist, even if I did have to deal with the aftermath of a blue tongue, teeth, and lips!

Once the two lovebirds were done spoon-feeding one another ice cream, we headed back up to the library so we could visit the nearby park to play for the last bit of time we had together.

I coaxed them into sliding down the super-tall aluminum slide together at the same time, not once but twice! And afterward, Logen happily pushed Nick in the swing for a while. This is where the laughter really let loose!

I loved how playful these two were with one another, it's apparent that they both laugh a lot and have fun together because we did just that during their engagement session! Thank you for checking out this preview of Logen & Nick's engagement session. I hope you enjoyed this re-creation of their fun first date!

What type of adventure did you go on with your sweetheart for your first date?! Share your story in the comment section; I'd love to hear from you!

Hi! My name is Jessica a.k.a. Wayfaring Wanderer and I reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains here in Boone, NC. I'm a free-spirited wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photographer who loves working with couples, families, and individuals who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to join the WW tribe by signing up [ HERE ] for somewhat weekly updates & get connected to the [ WW Facebook page ] to join the conversation! | Website www.wayfaringwanderer.com

Redefining Self-Love Series | 5 Ways to Love Yourself with Food | Guest Post from Leah @ Deep Rooted Wellness

My passion for food stems from my own 10-year battle with an eating disorder. As many high school girls and young women experience (and men as well, eating disorders aren't unique to the female gender), food became a major source of anxiety, discomfort, regret, failure, and sickness. And it’s unlike any other addiction in that you can’t just quit cold turkey – you have to learn to manage your addiction. I spent years learning to do just that, but it wasn't until I started to think about food in a more loving way that my attitude and perspective about diet shifted.

Detox Veggies | Photo by Deep Rooted Wellness

In the past, I created strict boundaries surrounding my food choices (i.e. NONE of this and certainly NONE of that – you can fill in the blank with your own restriction). No matter how tightly I tried to hold the reins, I would fail. If Ben & Jerry’s ice cream was on the ‘No List,’ I’d adhere to the rule for a few days, maybe even a week or two and then I’d binge on, yes, an entire pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. And you know how that made me feel? Like a failure. Like a completely incompetent glutton. Like a big fat pig that had zero self-control. Doesn't sound very loving, does it?

So what changed? First and foremost, I started to view food as a way to love and nourish my body, rather than something that needed to be restricted. When I started to think about food as love, then I automatically began eating a healthier diet and in turn, kicked some pretty bad habits and lost over 40 lbs.

I found there to be a couple of extremely important principles in my “food as love” journey that I thought were worth passing on:

1. Before you eat something, ask “Is this the most loving choice for my body?”

We have a way of feeling like we “earned” that huge piece of cheesecake (or whatever your vice may be), but the reality is that we’re “rewarding” ourselves with something that doesn't provide our body with the nourishment that it needs. When we’re not nourished, we don’t feel our best. A better approach is to reward ourselves with foods that make us feel whole and nourished. So next time you sit down to overindulge in an unhealthy food, first ask yourself “is this the most loving choice for my body?” And if it’s not, find something that is.

Gluten Free Donuts | Photo by Deep Rooted Wellness

2. If you just can’t resist the urge to eat junk food, “upgrade” your food choice.

Let’s say that you know your cheesecake isn't going to be the most loving choice for your body, but you just can’t resist. Nothing can stop you from eating it… and that’s okay, but first ask yourself, “is there a better choice that would suffice?” I have this problem with ice cream all the time, so I've started upgrading to a mixture of frozen fruit, avocado, almond milk and maple syrup. I throw everything into a good food processor or blender and I promise, this is SO close to ice cream! It totally fulfills the need for ice cream without that side of guilt and regret - I “upgraded” my choice. Part of the challenge with this one is determining the food characteristics that attract you in the first place – is it the saltiness, creaminess, sweetness, etc.? Figure out which characteristics are driving your desire and then fill that desire with a healthier choice that still has those same characteristics.

Photos courtesy of Deep Rooted Wellness

3. Forgive overindulgences. And hell, you can even enjoy them!

There’s much to be said about the role of stress in digestion. When we’re stressed, we release cortisol that inhibits our bodies from maximizing digestion and nutrient assimilation. So if you’re eating your cheesecake and all you keep thinking is “why I am doing this? I’m not supposed to be eating this,” your cortisol levels are rising and your cheesecake is doing even more damage than had you eaten the damn piece of cake and enjoyed it. So forgive yourself, and move on from the cheesecake incident. It’s not worth fretting over because what's done is done.

4. Make a weekly meal plan.

I can’t stress this enough. Yes, it takes time to put a meal plan together, but once you get in the habit of planning your meals, you’ll save a ton of time and money. Besides, if you have a plan in place, it’s much harder to make poor choices surrounding food. Let’s say it’s Thursday night, you feel like grabbing a cheesy burrito on your way home from work, but you’ve planned your week and you’ve already bought groceries. If you eat out, your groceries will just go bad. So home you go, to prepare a loving, nourishing dinner for you and your family.

Massaged Kale, Lentil & Goat Cheese Salad | Photo by Deep Rooted Wellness | Click image for recipe

5. Eat more whole foods.

Think of your body as a machine that needs good food as fuel. When we eat packaged, processed foods (even many of the all natural, organic ones), we’re putting chemicals in our bodies that don’t provide our “machine” with the right “fuel.” Our cells depend on the chemical breakdown of those “fuels” to build hormones, neurotransmitters and tissues. If you eat the wrong thing, then your body isn't able to manufacture the right product, which can leave us feeling imbalanced, moody, emotional, fatigued, grumpy, or a whole slew of other issues. Not to mention disease and undesirable health outcomes. A healthy whole foods diet includes grains, beans, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables and moderate amounts of animal proteins. The more of these foods you incorporate into your diet, the better you’ll feel!

Want to learn more about how to love yourself with food? Sign up for Leah’s 10-Day Detox Teleworkshop starting on April 28th! Leah will guide you through a 17-day program in which you’ll learn first hand how to make loving choices surrounding diet. You can learn more here: http://www.deeprootedwellness.com/events/2014/4/28/spring-detox-teleworkshop

Leah Webb, MPH (Master of Public Health), is a Vermont-based Certified Health Coach, who specializes in helping people feel more energized by making loving food choices, lose weight, balance emotions, and relieve chronic inflammation and pain. "Like" Deep Rooted Wellness on Facebook and sign-up for FREE whole foods recipes and other updates so you can connect w/ Leah!

To be notified when new Redefining Self-Love posts are available, sign-up for updates from Wayfaring Wanderer HERE and “LIKE” the Wayfaring Wanderer Facebook page to get connected!