INDIA: There has been a lot said on self-love, courtesy of 2020, which put us in circumstances that made us reflect on our mental health and on ourselves.
The latest instance of this was an insightful conversation of podcaster and purpose coach Jay Shetty with American actor, dancer, singer, and song-writer Jennifer Lopez about finding one’s purpose and calling, moving forward in life, self-love and gratitude.
Her views on ‘self-love’
Lopez revealed her struggles with self-love in her late 30s, ”I remember when I was going through therapy at the beginning, kind of in my late thirties, and there was a lot of talk about loving yourself, and I was like, ‘I love myself.’ But obviously, I was doing all these things in my personal relationships that didn’t seem like I was loving myself, but I didn’t even understand the concept of it. It took time and it’s a journey and it’s still a journey for me.”
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The point that JLo normalized here is that it’s okay to have self-doubts, because we all need a little validation in order to love ourselves a little more. Shetty quoted author Russell Barkley, “People who need the most love ask for it in the most unloving ways.”
Running along the same lines, the singer and actress stressed how important it is to teach children from a young age to love themselves and she added, “they should have a school for that.’’
Finding purpose in life
“I think you have to strive to be the best. It is an important key. But you don’t have to be the best to have success. You have to always just know that you have something special to offer,”advised JLo.
We tend to put pressure on finding our purpose in life, to which Lopez said, “Listen to yourself and the words that you tell yourself because what you say and what you think becomes your reality. Whatever it is, you tell yourself that and it will manifest. I really believe that we create our lives, not just with our actions and the things we do but the things we think, and the self-talk that we give.”
To inspire and give back
Don’t we all intend to inspire somebody in our lives or make an impact? But surprisingly, the process takes place not by forcing ourself to do so, buy by reciprocating our energy to the world to make a difference.
During the conversation Lopez said, “Every person just has to do what they do best and be the best that they can be, and in that they will help the world.’’
About her calling for 2021, JLo said, “My calling for 2021 in one sentence is to empower, inspire, entertain and put out into the world a message of love.” One of her mantras in 2021, says Lopez is to dream on. She aims to inspire and give people hope and direction in some way.
