Thinking Gray

Self-love is a construct - it's an abstract idea that doesn't exist in the material world. It is defined however we want to define it. That means it has a lot of definitions that vary based on the context and people who use it.   I asked people on social media how they defined 'self-love' and the answers had a common theme - connection to the self , and doing the ' right thing ' by yourself instead of what you are expected to do or what others want you to do. People also mentioned self-care activities , like massages and taking 'time out' for things you enjoy doing. Popular opinion would suggest that self-love seems is acting in a way that regenerates your energy, and aligns with your values.   According to Psychology Today , "self-love" is a "state of appreciation for oneself that  grows from actions  that support our physical, psychological, and spiritual growth". It is "dynamic", or consistently changing, as opp...

If you look back over old editions of Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Dolly Magazine (‘90s teens unite!) you’ll notice they all feature articles with the latest hints, tips, and tricks to “ lose weight (and keep it off!) ”, “ love yourself ”, “ tone your butt/abs/thighs/arms ”, or “ live your best life! ”. If these quick fixes worked, surely these articles would now be redundant ? Well, they’re still out in force - especially since the internet has made “ 10 easy ways to be happy - and stay that way! ” free and accessible to everyone - so I’m going to go out on a limb and say that simply knowing hints, tips, and tricks isn’t the answer. When you want change, information isn’t enough. Whether your goal is about fitness, mental health, or even your career, it takes more than a few quick tips to change. Why is knowing not enough?  Well, we all know smoking causes lung cancer, but people still smoke. That’s one example of many I could call upon where we know something and...