Truly beginning to care for myself was the turning point in me beginning to feel like me. 

As I peeled away the layers that I had built up around myself, I uncovered the pain and feelings that had been buried and never felt. 

I allowed myself to mourn the death of my mother, I empathised with myself for feeling like I had to figure it all out on my own.

I forgave myself for all the pain I’d self-inflicted, and acknowledged that I had coped in the way I knew best.

I no longer cared about questions to do with my identity. I’m proud to have such a diverse background and love that I can identify with people and places all over the world. I want to learn more about my Indian heritage and embrace it as a part of me. In fact, that’s where I feel the next part of my journey will take me. 

I started to like myself and put myself first, which radically changed my life as my outer world began to reflect how I was feeling inside. 

This self-care journey has not been one straight line. It’s been a few years of trialling new things, feeling good at times, then being messy and not feeling so good. It’s generally headed in a positive direction but is by no means ‘perfect’, or maybe it is perfect, as I’m exactly where I need to be.

Today, above all I feel happy that I have found my way back into my body, I have found my way back to ME.

Where in your life can you give yourself more self-compassion?

This blog is a snipped from the self-care guide in my book, Embodied. You can get your own copy of Embodied here or anywhere you buy your books online.

Photo by Alexander Shusto on Unsplash.