Love yourself and all else follows

by

Love yourself!

{Image and Quote via Creature Comforts}

I go back to this quote when I feel self-doubt coming on. No matter how strongly you believe in your abilities, sometimes that wave of self-depreciation comes along. It rears its ugly head and taunts you with:

“Yeah, right, can you really do it?”
“Tsk tsk. Someone else will do a better job.”
“This is too big for you to handle.”

Self-doubt could be quite the enemy. I’ve learned that the best way to combat it is self-love — respecting yourself, trusting yourself, not losing hold of who you are, your values and what you believe in.

Will I be a good mother?, I ask myself sometimes. I don’t know how my Mom did it — three kids, a successful career, a great household. I don’t know how my grandmother did it — five kids, delicious meals on the table everyday, a household so spick and span. I can’t even get rid of the dustbunnies under my bed.

While I can always turn to my family and my husband to give me pep talk, the most important one to convince is myself. So before self-doubt knocks me down, I try to remember the good things. I make a mental list of how I know I will be a good mother, how I believe I can do this in my own loving way, how trust in myself will make everything easier to handle.

“Yes, that’s right, I can really do it.”
“I can do this job well.”
“I trust myself that I can handle this.”

A little self-love can go a long way. Love yourself, and all else follows.

What do you do when self-doubt hits?

*****

I write more about overcoming self-doubt at Happy Nest. This is also my entry to oodles of goodles’ birthday contest. Have a happy Thursday! :)

Hi! I'm Toni Tiu, and I've been blogging at at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.

17 Comments on Love yourself and all else follows

  1. Rico
    June 11, 2009 at 11:35 am (15 years ago)

    Very nice Toni! And timely too! I have a friend who could use this quote right about now.
    And about being a good mother, I’m quite sure you’ll be a great one, being raised by such great mothers.

    Ricos last blog post..in a photo booth

    Thank you Rico!

    Reply
  3. witsandnuts
    June 11, 2009 at 12:16 pm (15 years ago)

    Very inspiring, Toni. I normally refer to my fave quotes and read the bible when I’m at my lowest low (while eating chocos!). =)

    witsandnutss last blog post..Where future and past are entwined

    Of course! Chocolates! 😀

    Reply
  4. Daphne
    June 11, 2009 at 12:22 pm (15 years ago)

    I’m glad to say that self doubts rarely rears its ugly head in my life lately. A far cry from my sobbing story days. I figure being married to a guy who is loaded with positive attitude helps! 😉

    Great post! I’m positive you will make a great mom to little Timmy. Good luck and be safe :)

    Daphnes last blog post..Let them eat cake

    That is so true that having an optimist for a partner helps. :)

    Thanks D!

    Reply
  5. kreez
    June 11, 2009 at 3:29 pm (15 years ago)

    great post toni, very insightful! i normally stay quiet and read an inspiring book or site to perk my spirit up or browse through pictures to remind me of the good times.

    kreezs last blog post..Spring, Summer and Breakfast

    Thank you Kreez! :) I normally stay quiet too.

    Reply
  6. ibyang
    June 11, 2009 at 4:24 pm (15 years ago)

    great thoughts toni. :)

    i always tell myself to love myself more than anything when i’m having self-doubts. i give myself a pep talk too :)

    ibyangs last blog post..“A Wife’s Charmed Life” on Blog Leave

    It works, doesn’t it? We are our own greatest cheerleaders.

    Reply
  7. ibyang
    June 11, 2009 at 4:28 pm (15 years ago)

    pahabol:
    at times like this, dito ako nakakagawa ng sandamakmak na Affirmations hehe :)

    Positive thinking! 😀

    Reply
  8. MrsLavendula
    June 11, 2009 at 4:36 pm (15 years ago)

    great post! i was just chatting with my sister who is in a rut right now. i told her that when things dont go our way and self doubt hits, quietly praying/reflecting always helps. sometimes, we just need to silence ourselves to hear the answer to our questions.

    MrsLavendulas last blog post..Our Little Game of Weekend Food Choices

    Yes! Silence ourselves. Panic causes us to overthink.

    Reply
  9. MrsLavendula
    June 11, 2009 at 4:37 pm (15 years ago)

    great post! i was just chatting with my sister who is in a rut right now. i told her that when things dont go our way and self doubt hits, quietly praying/reflecting always helps. sometimes, we just need to silence ourselves to hear the answer to our questions.

    Reply
  10. odette
    June 11, 2009 at 4:40 pm (15 years ago)

    i love the quote!
    no one can really help us as much as our own selves. sometimes it’s easier said than done, but there’s absolutely no other way but to trust our instincts and believe in our strength.
    you’ll be a great mom, and your son will feel the luckiest to have you.
    keep the faith!

    odettes last blog post..quote

    Thanks for the vote of confidence, Odette!

    Reply
  11. abbee
    June 11, 2009 at 5:23 pm (15 years ago)

    I read self-help books & recall every conversation that I’ve ever had at work that required me to de-escalate issues to my higher-ups & assuage confused/tired/irate customers with much success, for one thing.

    abbees last blog post..appointments advisory

    Hugs to a fellow scatterbrain!

    Reply
  13. Earthling Chic
    June 12, 2009 at 2:02 am (15 years ago)

    So true, lagi ko nga pinapaalahanan sarili ko with that eh.. hehe Love yourself. :)

    Earthling Chics last blog post..Blog Content is IMPORTANT

    Sabi nga ni Whitney Houston diba? “Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.” Hehehe.

    Reply
  14. caryn
    June 12, 2009 at 11:40 am (15 years ago)

    this is a beautiful quote toni 😉 sometimes we forget no?

    caryns last blog post..Taym Pers: On writing and inspiration

    It’s hard to remember when the negativity creeps in!

    Reply
  15. BabyPink
    June 13, 2009 at 1:07 am (15 years ago)

    thanks, toni girl! your entries never fail to lift my spirit up. :)

    BabyPinks last blog post..Pouring rain…

    Diane!!!!!!!!!! *hugs*

    Reply
  16. Kay
    June 16, 2009 at 4:08 am (15 years ago)

    I turn to family and friends to remind me of my worth or I write good things about me that I remember ….

    Kays last blog post..Weekend Reflection # 41

    That’s a great exercise!

    Reply
  17. Glenda
    June 16, 2009 at 2:11 pm (15 years ago)

    Thanks Toni for joining and for sharing this beautiful quote. I’m definitely one of those who can benefit from these words of wisdom time and again – I am rarely confident about the choices that I make (even for something as simple as deciding where to eat!) so this quote is very inspiring for me. :-)

    Glendas last blog post..Rainy Days & Classical Music

    Happy that inspired you! :)

    Reply

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