(Self) Love Is All You Need

Let’s be honest…

We are our own worst critic. Boudoir photography helps a woman celebrate herself, and see herself through someone else’s eyes. But sometimes it may take some additional work (and courage) to step back and appreciate what you have and who you are.

1. Self-Forgiveness

We all need to learn how to go about offering ourselves forgiveness. Beating ourselves up is not helpful or constructive. We all make mistakes, and sometimes we have to pay the consequences for our actions. But offer yourself a bit of compassion to your past self that made the mistake.

2. Belief

Another pillar of self-love? Remove the limiting beliefs about yourself that keep you down. They bind you down and prevent you from moving forward. Examples of these limiting beliefs:

• I can't tell anyone.

• I can't trust anyone.

• I will never achieve this.

• I am not worthy of love.

• I am not a good person.

3. Acceptance

Take out a blank piece of paper and write down your strength and weaknesses. (Remember this is your list, not what you perceive others think of you.) Be realistic, be honest, and take time to reflect on yourself.

4. Practice

Now is the fun part! Work some self-care into your routine. Schedule the massage, take the vacation, go to the gym — and schedule the boudoir shoot! 😉 The key here is to stay action-oriented. Spending time on ourselves allows us to accept all aspects, including the flaws. It also helps us define our own standards for well-being and happiness.

5. Patience

None of us are perfect. Practicing self-love is just that — practice. You are changing behaviors and habits and you are bound to fall into old routines of self-doubt and self-criticism. Achieving self-love is a journey, it doesn’t happen overnight. Stay committed, you got this!