Main Apni Favourite Hoon!

Self-love might sound like soaking yourself in the warm rays of the sun, hot showers, calm baths, relaxing massages, scented candles, a soft comfy couch, a heartwarming book with a cup of Caffe Mocha, eating an entire tub of Nutella or your favorite ice cream all by yourself, watching your favorite movie or binge-watching a web series with caramel flavored popcorn or shopping your favorite outfits. Pampering yourself in ways that make you laugh like a newborn baby is always a great idea but self-love isn't just about pampering.

Stop looking outside yourself for fulfillment. You can't possibly know someone else's internal world and they may be looking at you and thinking the very same thing.

Imagine waking up on a beautiful morning when you move out of the bed and stand before the mirror admiring yourself! Also, you don't even feel embarrassed about your squeaky bunny slippers! Sounds like you're dreaming?

Why is it that we aren't able to look beyond our imperfections? Why do those stretch marks and strawberry legs still bother? Why do we always feel that having a slimmer waist and flatter stomach would take us a level closer to what "being pretty" is? Why do we look at those internet posts and adapt the trend and style those people whom we haven't even met, overlooking how amazing we are?

The moment one understands his/her uniqueness and gives oneself a space in the world accepting what they are, that's when one will be able to love oneself.

One of the key reasons is social media. Although social media is an amazing platform to share opinions and add to your knowledge, we need to realize that this cosmos is perfidious. Social media has a hundred percent filtered content. It shows the best version of everything. Sometimes, what we see can also be treasonous and it is absolutely apt for social media.

I'm pretty sure, what your Instagram feed says about you, is definitely not the actual you! Well, mine definitely doesn't! We all love aesthetics, don't we? Those saturated filters and a wide array of features from subtle effects like skin smoothing and colour correction to more dramatic digital makeovers which completely glamorize our pictures. Before posting one, we recreate it with thousands of filters and consult at least five people. And, oh wait! Did I mention the efforts we put in searching for an ideal caption? Isn't this the backstory of every "perfect post"?

We starve ourselves because we have a 'so-called' body image to maintain refusing to accept ourselves. Instead of embracing our beautiful scars, we tend to be superficial so that people admire us. Isn't it something that all of us do? Being pretentious with the best versions of ourselves showing the world we are happy, where deep down we are not. Our happiness is swayed by the standards and admirations of the world.

Social media isn’t a bad thing if we don’t let it get the best of us. Setting boundaries is always a good idea.

Drawing lines to social media isn't enough to make you happy, there's still a lot you need to do.

Date yourself! Aaahhhh, no — little did I know that God had plans for me and they went a little something like this.......... I know I sound like a broken record here but ask yourself, what do we do when we date somebody? Treat yourself exactly like that!

Meet yourself amidst the chaotic mess— it’s in the uncomfortable situations where we truly find ourselves.

Always remember, it's your life and you have to live it for yourself. Don't live according to the "standards" of the world. Yes, staying home at weekends with a cup of coffee rather than going out partying is absolutely fine. Some of my favorite nights have nothing to do with anyone else – but have everything to do with myself! It's me who has made those lonely nights into memorable ones, all by myself! Don’t follow the status quo diluting yourself for those unwelcomed opinions around you. You just need yourself, and you are ready to conquer the world! You know what, when I was a child, one of my favorite quotes was "Chin up princess or the crown slips". Nothing feels more real than this today.

You all must have heard, "To err is human to forgive is divine". Being humans, we all are bound to make mistakes. We make mistakes on tests, we make mistakes on choosing our better half who ends up to be the total opposite of who you had known from before or you end up being with some stranger who is completely not your type, we make mistakes on our work, in our homes, in choosing friends who are really not that great to be around with and hanging out with the wrong crowds. But it's ok! With time, we learn and make the right choices. Having a failure doesn’t mean you are a failure. It means you have more to learn. So don't ever criticize yourself. Learn to forgive yourself! We need to keep our demons in check. Once you move one from that phase, gradually you will strive to come up with a better version of yourself. Treat yourself beautifully. Get the sleep you deserve; you are a hard worker and rest is important. When you exercise or diet, be sure to also give yourself a break from both of those things — your body can only take so much. Eat the donut, because I promise you’ll still want the donut the weekend after. You deserve a pat on the back from yourself. We spend too much time being hard on ourselves when, hey, we’re all doing a great job.

Always remember, it all begins in your mind. What gives you power, has power over you, if you allow it.