Sometimes you have to say no

Self-love.

It can be a tricky size, that one. Accepting yourself, just the way you are, with all your flaws and imperfections, and loving you anyway. Maybe even because. Feeling good about yourself in a world that profits from the opposite. That takes practice.

I used to see myself only through the eyes of others. Always seeking validation to feel worthy. I tried my best to please everyone to make them like me, feeling like a horrible person if I took care of myself before I took care of them. In the end, I didn’t even know what I wanted. I was so focused on other people’s needs. It was exhausting, and I didn’t even notice.

I remember well when I received my very first Akashic healing. I was skeptical and had no expectations, and no problems that I knew of. It was simply out of curiosity, I had to check out this weird form of healing. I was told that I had lived a native life where I failed to protect the children of my tribe against an attack. I survived, most of them didn’t. It crushed me, and I wished that I had died instead. I didn’t feel worthy of life, and decided to give up my right to live. This created a blockage in my heart, working like a blinder of some sort. It made life bearable, and I was able to move on. It stuck with me, and was still present to that day, 7 lives later.

After it was removed, I noticed a shift. Whenever I was treated unfairly, I couldn’t pretend not to see. I carefully started setting boundaries. I stopped taking blame that wasn’t mine to bear. I practiced saying no, and sticking to it, without feeling guilty. I learned to take care of myself, and to respect myself. Slowly, slowly, I started loving myself. And I’m still learning.

This painting is to all of you who could use a little more self-love. Remember, sometimes you have to say no to others, to say yes to yourself ❤️