This is Day 8 of the 21-Day Journaling Challenge held in Nov 2011. The challenge is now over but you can do the tasks in your own time. Visit the overview page for all the challenge tasks.
Hi everyone – Welcome to Day 8 of 21DJC! :)
Yesterday’s question was: “What is the Most Important Thing You’ve Learned in Life So Far?“. (Read the responses.)
There have been so many things I’ve learned to date, and each of them has been important in its own right. From lessons like follow your heart, trust your instinct, always address the root cause of issues and not the effects, open your heart to others and others will do the same, the outer state of your life reflect your inner beliefs than anything else, when there’s a will there’s a way, nothing is impossible in this world, your inner self has all the answers, you always have a choice, the limits we face in life are to do with us than anything else, growing is the best thing one can do as a person, life is what you make it out to be, the only limits we face in life are ourselves, and many more.
Hence, if you are to ask me one thing I’ve learned in life so far, I’d say it’s that I’ve learned nothing. That there are so many new things out there, so many incredible, talented people, so many wonderful experiences that I’ve yet to experience. That the more I learn and grow, the more I realize how much I’ve to learn. I’ve found this to be especially true since I started my travels.
The implication then, is that we should always be open to new things. Don’t close yourself off from new experiences. Don’t close yourself off from people. Don’t rule out new opportunities for growth. Most importantly, don’t be closed off in your beliefs. (On Days 26-27 of Be a Better Me in 30 Days Program, you identify your limiting thoughts and replace them with empowering ones.)
With that said, let’s now move to today’s question!
21DJC Day 8
Today’s question is this:
On a Scale of 1-10, How Much Do You Love Yourself?
Self-love is a topic that’s so important, yet rarely talked about in the realm of personal growth. Hence, today I’d like to ask you to reflect on this: How much do you love yourself on a scale of 1-10, where 1 is the lowest and 10 is the highest? And why?
Your Task Today:
- Reflect and answer today’s question. There’s no word limit – whether minimum or maximum. Write as few or as many words as you want. It’s all up to what you want to express!
- Share your answer. After you are done writing, copy and paste your answer in the comments area and post it there.
- Check out other participants’ answers. Other participants will be sharing their answers too, so feel free to read and reply to their answers. This is a group course, so let’s support each other in these 21 days.
((Images: Empty book for journaling, Self love))
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I am in love with myself. I don’t know how to measure that though…
I love being me…all my sorrows and joys.. ups and downs .. everything… I wake up each day grateful and say to myself.. here is another day to explore… go on … have fun living t… :dance:
Honestly maybe a 3-4. I have some good qualities that are to be admired but I have regrets and missed opportunities I can’t seem to forgive myself for. I loved the person I used to be a lot more than I love the person I am now. Now I’m just a shadow of the person I used to be. and my self respect, and self esteem have become shadows as well. Just as I predicted several years ago, I’m fading away and eventually I will disappear entirely.
This is a hard one. I have been concerned on loving others than loving myself.
Probably I would rate myself here “5”.
I love myself because I see kindness and compassion in most situations, I see satisfaction in helping my friends overcome their problems (be they relationship, work, family etc), I guide my staff in carrying out their duties, I give proper nourishment to my body, soul and mind so they can work perfectly in order. Having said that, it seems I should deserve more than “5” here.
On second thoughts, I do not cos I have still deficiencies in me that I want to work on. Limiting thoughts and beliefs, fear, distrust, anxiety and such. I just need to be true to myself and love myself more, knowing for sure I can overcome my deficiencies, so I can live a fulfilling life.
I am enjoying your challenge; your questions are thought provoking, just what is needed for journal writing. I admit I am enjoying immensely writing daily. I did create an online journal as well so I have all my answers for reference. I like it a lot! Glad I joined the challenge!
On a scale of 1 to 10 how much do I love myself? There’s a line I use often, “I love me, who do you love?” I often use it in a funny context all the same! I had one very close friend who said to me several times, “It’s not always about you Terrye”. I learned from her, she is very right. We are not the friends we once were but I learned a lot from her. I am grateful to her for the times she helped me learn to make it about others. She was not always right but I did need the smack in the head she gave me a few times
I love myself an 8 and I think that’s a pretty strong number for anyone! Bless the people who love themselves 10 – Wow! Pity the people who love themselves less than 5/6 – That would be sad I think…
I’ve made some mistakes I wish I had not made. Life is not about regret, too short for that. I learned from the mistakes, I pray I learned enough not to repeat them! I take away a whole point for those mistakes — I do my best to forgive myself, I pray God forgives me… (God) sees inside my heart and knows me better then I know myself so I am sure God was understanding me even when I was not understanding myself.
I take away another whole point for a lot of bits and pieces of me that I wish I could change and probably could change with more discipline. Wish I worked out harder, wish my weight was less, wish I had created a career instead of a job, wish I were closer to my children, and wish I did not enjoy wines so! Wish I were more patient with others, wish I were more tolerant, wish I were more forgiving (maybe)…
BUT: I am independent even though it’s not a “career” per se (no pension, boo hoo)… I have forgiven some things that some who are very very close to me thought “unforgivable”… So I know I can be a forgiving person. I am kind and caring. I am lovable. I am confident, strong, athletic, determined, focused. I have turned the other cheek when there are times I didn’t need too.
Despite the wish list you read above, I am one of the most positive people I know. I am a motivator; I am there when I am needed. I lead a wonderful life filled with an abundance of blessings!!! I love life, I absolutely love life. My heart is very full. Gratitude is a daily part of my life. The moon makes me smile, sunsets and sun rises fill my soul. The smell of fresh grass, the sound of the ocean. The feel of my grandchildren when they cuddle me close, my husband when he smiles that sheepish grin….
I have helped create the life I am living. I am responsible for its joys and its failures, in one way or another. I like me, I like who I am. On a scale of one to ten, I love me EIGHT…..
Smiles
On a scale of 1-10, I would choose 5 or 6. Sometimes I just hate myself. ORZ. Whenever I did something wrong, said something inappropriate; and when I was being lazy, procrastinated, I would hate myself of wasting life.
Around 5.I have a love-hate relationship with myself. Trying to love the woman I see in the mirror more everyday. Such a hard task! But it should be a 10 for all of us. Radical Acceptance of oneself is a must. Warts and all, we should celebrate ourself . Not stopping to try to be better versions of ourselves everyday and yet being gentle with ourselves if we fail.
Wow, these just keep getting harder every day! Well, I would love to say an 8 or 9 but I feel only a 5. I am constantly struggling with the forever, I need to lose 10 pounds, which always makes me feel self conscious. For whatever reason my weight is linked with my self esteem and that is something that I have been dealing with since I was a teenager. I also would like to become a better person and everyone knows that is a struggle within its self. I would like to adhere to the treat others as you would like to be treated and do something nice for someone everyday sort of thing. Sometimes you get so caught up in your life that you forget to do that.
10 as u gotta love urself always because u r the only one who will not cheat with u
When i think about this question first thing that comes to my mind is 10, because i really love and take care of my self. But actually i can be sure when i think a little that on a scale of 1 to 10 i love myself 9, because 10 would be a perfect me and i am not just there yet but i am on a speed train there :)
It would be a solid 8. It’s certainly not at 1 since I am very happy with myself and what I have experienced and accomplished in my life thus far. It’s not a 10 since I am not terribly content with where my life is headed nor how I complete each day. If I loved myself a bit more I would be making more of that effort to live every day as if it were my last. Instead I just take where life goes and somedays I have uber-fufilling days and others I just sort of exist. But you know 8 out of 10 is not bad. I am actually a perfectionist and so technically I should be upset that I give myself low marks, but I am also realistic and loving myself 10 out of 10 just is not practical. And it leaves two more notches left to grow and aspire to really love yourself. I have found this a rather hard question and most likely I have not answered it. It’s also strange since although I do not give myself full marks, I also do not see the remaining steps are being the opposite of love, hate. I do not hate myself in any regard, just a bit disappointed with her sometimes. So once again, not sure if I answered the question. Will be intrigued to understand the background for the question.
How do I love thee, let me count the ways…..there are so many times in life that I have not loved myself at all, there have also been times in life when I thought I was better than I was ever going to be. Amazingly enough for myself this scale varies depending upon what events are transpiring in my life at that time.
Failing a test affects my self love, having a photo shoot that turns out good even in low light affects it as well. Both in different ways. I don’t think I can place it on a number scale because there are so many variables that affect how I feel each day.
I can however note that the scale for me runs from 5 to 8 on a regular basis. I slip below 5 and have a 3 day, and some days where the day is perfect from beginning to end I love me for a 9.
1 and 2 for me are dangerous numbers, I have been there and the struggle to come be up out of the depths of hatred is a climb that is long, painful and easier to avoid. 10 is a perfect love and I have yet to find that for myself. :heart:
I would say that on a scale from 1-10 I love my self 9.
2-3 years ago I would have said a 3 but know that I learned to accept me as I really am I love me 9:)
I demand lots of things from me that’s why I don’t say 10. I know I can be better.
I am going to say a “6”. In some ways I love myself 100% and then there are those other aspects that I need to spend more time on. Still have areas I need to work through.
On the scale of 1-10, about loving myself…I would certainly offer myself with 10…
I love myself more than any other living being on this planet. If u can’t see love in yourself then you may not see in others..I would not give rating with figure 1-10, depends on how I feel things around…rather I would put myself in a comfortable figure like 10, and enjoying things that comes on my way no matter how big or small, how good or bad…coz I love myself more than the things around…I always feel, for everything I have lost, I have gained something and for everything I have gained, I have lost something..moreover it is well balanced..its all about our outlook towards life,whether regret or rejoice..I will rejoice with myself since the things cannot change me unless my conscience allow for that…
How much do you love yourself on a scale of 1-10, where 1 is the lowest and 10 is the highest? And why?
I would rate myself a 3 because I don’t think I treat myself with proper respect.
I’d give myself an 8.5 because I love who I am- I am smart, intelligent, optimistic, good at cooking, singing, designing circuits, reading books and listening. I am adaptable and always open to new ideas and experiences. i daily practice the “attitude of gratitude”. I do have faults- obstinacy, impatience (only at times) and chattering away to glory! (I think most happy, young women do that! :D )
I used to think that it was wrong to love yourself, till i realized that if I don’t love myself unconditionally, I won’t have the ability to love others. If we aren’t happy with ourselves, we will always be looking for faults in others around us! There was this interesting concept of “cup of love” that in a nutshell, talks about how we need to love ourselves to refilled our cup every now and then, so we have more love to give others!
So by the wise “old’ age of 25 (;) ), I have learnt to accept myself totally – the talents and strengths with the quirks and the flaws. And I know that over time I can always change the flaws or at least develop my strengths to overcome my weaknesses. But I’d never rate myself a 10, since it would take away the scope for improvement.
On a scale of 1-10, I would say I still stand on the scale of 6 when it comes to loving myself. I realised that I have not loved myself enough because I still short changed myself.
There are times when I am not honest enough with myself because I always think other sucks at times.
At this moment the love for myself is growing. I put myself last for many years, recently decided to change this. I am in a journey of self growth, of finding myself. I love the person I am.
How much do I love myself?
It is not something I ever think about.
I know that I am loved, and that gives me a feeling of well being.
I love others and that love flows freely.
I want myself to be happy and healthy, and connected spiritually, I want for myself the same good things that I do for others that I love – peace, wisdom, fulfillment, happiness.
My sense is that I do love myself – I will give it a 7
Really good question! not really thought of this before till lately my surrondings keep reminding me to look after myself and put myself first of everyone else…
I give myself 10 out of 10 because I like and love myself of who I am…
People either like me of who I am, then they are my true friends… those who don’t, then they are not my friends…
That’s exactly what I’m working on. Knowing myself and loving me more than I ever thought I could.
Few years back someone fell in love with me and I said to myself ‘that’s your biggest achievement in life’.
I abandoned studies, I delayed mostly everything in my life. I’m always late. Always seem to miss that ‘right timing’. But this man saw something in me, so that means I’m not unworthy. After 3 years in this relationship, focusing only on my boyfriend, on his happiness and well-being, I sort of lost myself. I didn’t even know if I’m listening to instrumental music because that’s what I like or because that’s his favorite. And eventually he felt the crisis too. He said I’m holding him back. And that made me hate myself even more than I did before meeting him.
After the break-up, I wasted months and months trying to turn back time, to undo my attitude, my mistakes, hoping he would come back. But in the midst of all that, there was this tiny moment… when I looked around, the sky was blue, people were in a hurry, the typical noisy afternoon downtown. And I found myself smiling and thinking ‘I deserve better’. I don’t know what made me think that, maybe God sent a ray of light upon me, maybe He did that the whole time but that’s when I stopped and felt it.
I still haven’t finished studies, I still don’t have a stable job, a place for myself. But I have a heart, a soul, a body, a mind that are finally working together, as a team. And I love myself and I’m proud to have this team on my side.
So, I jumped from 2-3 to 7-8. And counting…
At present I would give myself 5 points on a scale of 1 to 10 for how much I love myself. How I rated myself is based on what I am, what I have in me, how I am to others/myself and also on the basis of way life has happened so far. There are many traits I wish to work on, there have been many occasions I would have performed better, so many newness to try out and I haven’t… so some points are deducted.
Well the points that I have earned is because I see potential in me to be better, for my goodness and as I have learnt and improved from past. Senselessly if I went wrong I should still forgive myself and get going. There has been times I didn’t love myself but now as I turn back it wasn’t me I hated but the wrong decisions I took and indecisions. I should love myself first so that I can love others and in order that others too love me. If one agrees all deserve love and happiness in the world, oneself deserves it too.
I would say about 7. Fluctuates around that range 6.5-8.
Im happier with myself of late, ever since i’ve stopped ‘sleep-walking’ and merely dreaming… and started taking actions. Even tho it may be small steps.
Before I used to always need to seek approval, from my parents, my boyfriend.. affirmation from my friends. Nowadays I reflect, do research, and try to make my own decisions in life as far as possible. Of course I still listen to suggestions from my parents, bcos they’re ultimately trying to guide me, but Im increasingly taking all criticisms with a pinch of salt and not personally.
I’ve more respect for myself now because of this. I’m also more confident and independent at my job. Im taking charge of my life in all aspects, trying to at least :) It’s a learning journey. My friends think im caring and loyal, good & empathetic listener. My family thinks im accommodating and dependable. I’m happy with that. I’m also glad that I’ve been able to withstand and deal with nasty people at work in my own stride.. trying to treat them with kindness, while standing up for myself.
Some things about myself that I dont like about myself – I still need to work on that confidence and courage. I’m silently resilient, but sometimes I feel the need to hold back stuff. I also wish I could be more open and unafraid of sharing my life and thoughts to friends and my parents. This is partly because I fear criticism, or I just dont like being on the radar and having too much attention.
I also wished im more emotionally generous, and express myself fully to my friends and family. Other areas I want to improve on… discipline to pack my room, keep things tidy, and go exercise in the gym. Sometimes it feels like im so haphazard and all over the place.
so yeah, 7/10.
I would give myself a 5. The journey to self love has been a long one for me. Sometimes we do not understand how we successfully sabotage ourselves in life and relationships. Like for example getting into a relationship with an unavailable person hoping that they will change is lack of self love. Keeping at a relationship that is not good for you. Being unhealthy and not exercising. Also sabotaging your career by getting late all the times. I have been a victim of myself many times. I am still learning how to put my interests in alignment with my higher self. I know God loves me and i just need to believe that He will lead me to paths that give me ultimate joy and happiness. Happiness to me is a default, suffering is not my way of life and even if i suffer, i know God has given me the ultimate power to deal with anything that may come my way.
On a scale of 1-10, today I would rate 8 because I just treated myself to a long luxurious massage (affordable because I’m in Shanghai).
But this rating tends to change day to day depending on how I’m feeling. I noticed that when I feel good, I treat myself good. There are days when I feel bad and then I don’t eat well, or exercise, and then I go to bed late. On those days, I only love myself a 2.
But the more I treat myself well, the more I love myself, because I am feeling good and I am appreciating myself.
Depending on the day I just had, it would be between 4 and 7. But it’s getting better and better !
There’s a difference between loving yourself & loving your soul. Both kinds of love are inversly proportional to each other. The soul is purity, while the self is the opposite.
The enjoyment of the self is in this life but the enjoyment of the soul is in the after-life.
We are both, the self & the soul, but one tells us to do “bad” things while the other is the voice of reason.
Example: If we win some cash, the self will push us to splurge mindlessly unlike the soul which will encourage doing good deeds like charity.
The self wants instant pleasures which are short-lived but the soul wants pleasures in the long run which is forever.
So how much do I love myself? Probably 9/10 and love my soul 1/10. Hoping to switch these numbers because that’s the only way to truly love ‘me’.
Not enough – maybe 5 because I know all my flaws.
As someone already pointed out to me, you don’t have to be perfect to love yourself a 10. It just means that you accept that you have flaws, you’re working to improve yourself and those flaws and love yourself anyway! Loving yourself a 10 doesn’t mean you have to BE a 10. I answered the question from the same angle and was glad someone pointed out to me that there was a difference.
Hope I wasn’t being presumptious by suggesting it to you as well
Have a great day!!
Raven :)
First thought again seven . I’m heading towards an eight. Loving your self, I’ve come to realise is important and I’ve already gone up in marks in the last few months.
I love my self now and have respect for myself and know what I will and won’t tolerate. I’m working on making the score higher by living my dreams, being pro-active and not procrastinating to much. I want to find more happiness with myself and know this will attract more like minded people and possibly love.
I found this quite a difficult question to answer; I suppose it’s not something easily thought about. The immediate answer that sprung to mind was probably the easiest, just to dismiss it as quite a low number – maybe 4/5. But then I thought about how much I strive to be the best person I can be, and how much time and effort I’ve spent trying to improve myself and get over certain issues and ailments over the years. Yes, I have flaws, and elements of myself that I’m not necessarily comfortable with. But if I didn’t love myself, if I didn’t think I had enough worth, surely I would have accepted this and just given up? Surely I wouldn’t believe that I deserve to achieve all the hopes and dreams I have in the world, and set up targets and plans to reach them? And surely I wouldn’t believe that I’m actually capable of achieving them?
The truth is, honestly, I believe I can do all of the above. I know I am a strong person; I have achieved a lot more than I thought I could do so far, and I will do my utmost to continue to achieve all I want to in the world. And if deep down, I think I deserve all of this – and more importantly, I think I can *do* all of this – then I must love myself far more than I’d initially have thought. The fact that I’ve never given up says this.
So then, with that in mind, I’m happy to say I’d give myself a much nicer number of about nine. There’s always room for improvement for that perfect ten, and there’ll always be the odd down day of 4/5, or maybe even lower. But as long as I keep believing in myself and what I want out of life, and as long as I keep making the effort to be happy, and to understand that happiness is something we all deserve, then I clearly hold myself in a much higher esteem (and with much more love) than I would have first imagined.
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