It’s safe to say that throughout adolescence, most girls lack self-confidence to a certain extent; whether that be a desire to fit in with the “popular girls,” negative body image, or just simply not feeling good enough. Junior high and high school hallways are a breeding ground for these feelings, making it seem as though those cruel moments will never end.
I am no stranger to these feelings or these experiences. While I grew up in a household that emphasized the value of self-confidence, those feelings were inevitable because, truth be told, growing up a girl is hard.
Self-love is the foundation of the most important relationship that you have in your life – that with yourself. Loving yourself isn’t just a self-esteem booster, a compliment, or a piece of advice. It is, in fact, the very prerequisite to loving others truly and deeply. While the Golden Rule -- “love your neighbor as you love yourself” -- is typically a phrase used to teach young kids about how to interact with one another, if you look deeper, it’s a command to love yourself.
Self-love often has a mistaken identity. It’s often confused with adjectives like arrogant or egocentric, or the thought that you’re putting yourself first at the expense of others. It is, in actuality, being in absolute awe of your own existence; to accept yourself exactly as you are, regardless of your good or bad characteristics. It’s about being kind to yourself and taking care of yourself, knowing that you’re worthy of that treatment. It’s about teaching others how to treat you by showing them how you treat yourself.
To give love, you must have love first, which is exactly why self-love is a win-win for all involved. It provides you with inner happiness, confidence, and peace of mind. It helps you navigate towards healthier choices in all aspects of life.
When it was my turn to go through the stages of Primary Recruitment, my self-love levels were severely lacking in all departments. From day one, I was in awe of the women of Alpha Delta Pi - how confidently they carried themselves, how well-spoken they were, and how authentically themselves they were in every conversation. Very quickly, they became the women that I wanted to be and the chapter I wanted to grow up with.
Joining Alpha Delta Pi was where my journey of self-love began, rooted deeply in one of our chapter tenets: self.
The women of ADPi have the remarkable and noteworthy ability to bring out the best in you, reminding you of your worth, and encouraging you not to stop until you are happy. They truly want what’s best for you and want you to feel authentically you at all times.
The extent to which I’ve developed personally over three years in Pi chapter is truly remarkable and I owe every single bit of that growth to the women I’m lucky to be surrounded by and call my closest friends.
Whether you’re spending this Valentine’s day with a significant other or with your besties, take time today to give yourself some love: a box of chocolates, a sweat session at the gym, a hot shower or long bath, a trip to Target, an extra hour of sleep, or anything else to remind yourself how precious it is to be loved and to give love.
Be kind to yourself, and to one another.
Pi love and all of mine,
Claire Simmons