Day 1: The I Love You Study
Today is the launch of The I Love You Study, which is a personal introspection, rather than a scientific study. Admittedly, I started my “I love you, Rosie”s (ILYs) earlier this week (which is what prompted the inspiration for The Study). What I’m noticing so far is that whenever I say ILY, the tension between my eyebrows releases and the corners of my mouth upturn in a small smile.
Yesterday, a few times I was thinking about some experiences with other people where I was not my kindest self. I found myself internally saying in response to my thoughts, “I’m horrible.” “I can’t believe I did that.” Mucho shame in each of those statements. And that shame has nothing to do with the present moment. It was all based on interactions that happened days, weeks, or months ago. I counteracted these self-loathing thoughts by saying out loud ILY. There was some noticeable relief. It brought me back to the present moment, and then I thought, “This life is great, and I am an awesome person.” Yeah, baby! Now we’re talking. Feel free to share your experiences in the comments section or on the Facebook Page. May you be sweet to yourself. ~RL
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
My birthday gift to myself, like my only New Year’s resolution, is to love myself. This project is going pretty well so far. It’s been four whole months of self-love being my primary focus, and I can definitely feel a difference. When I talked to my aunt not long ago, she said she perceived a “quantum leap” in my energy, in the sound of my voice, even my laugh. In April I participated in Miss Rosie’s I Love You Study in which I told myself “I love you, Vera” as many times a day as I remembered to, every day of the month of April, sometimes in the mirror. It sounds silly, but it really works.
It makes me slightly sad to have taken 35 years to get to this place (I wish I could have loved myself this much at age 10, 14, 17, 22, 27, 33, etc.) but better late than never! I unfortunately know that many people NEVER hold themselves in as high a regard as I hold myself now, and I am grateful for being able to give this to myself.
Happy birthday, Vera! I love you.