‘The Wellbeing team supported the VCE VM students Valentines day stall by celebrating the theme of ‘Radical Self Love’.

What is Radical Self Love?

“Radical self-love is treating yourself the way you would treat your very best, most treasured friend.”
― Gala Darling

Engaging in radical self-love involves loving and accepting your entire self, even the parts you may consider flaws. Once you choose radical self-love, your entire perspective and attitude can change. You can begin to give yourself the care you deserve and feel better about yourself. It may sound silly or over-the-top, but it will make more sense when you start to let go of limiting beliefs and embrace yourself fully.

Here are some tips on how to practice radical self-love:

• Love every part of you: This includes loving your perceived flaws—which may not even be actual flaws. It means loving every part of your body and your personality. It means loving your quirks and your neuroses.
• Be your own very best friend: This means treating yourself how you would treat your best friend in the world and practicing forgiveness, kindness, and grace. 
• Listen to yourself over others: It can be easy to let the overwhelming voices of others drown out your own voice, but set an intention to listen to yourself above everyone else. You are the expert on your body, your mind, and your heart, and you know who you are and that no one can take your worth from you.
• Write down and recite affirmations: Write down a list of affirmations that resonate with you and put them somewhere where you will see them every day, such as above your desk. Commit to reciting them several times a day, not just saying the words, but really tuning into them.
• Question your negative self-beliefs when they arise: If you find yourself thinking negatively about yourself, whether it’s about the type of treatment you deserve or criticism about your body, you need to challenge these thoughts, where they came from, and why you’re thinking them, so you can then replace them with more loving and generous thoughts.
• Do things that bring you joy: Doing things you love can help you feel better about yourself. If you love to play guitar, carve time out every day to play it and really be in the moment.
• Practice gratitude: Creating a gratitude practice can help you to keep things in perspective and to acknowledge all of the wonderful things in your life. You can try writing down three things you’re grateful for when you wake up in the morning or at night. 
• Source: Taylor, S.R. (2021). The Body is Not an Apology, Second Edition: The Power of Radical Self-Love. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

 

 

Madeleine Matheson – Yr 9 & 10 Wellbeing Officer

 

 

 

Nadia Diaco – School Nurse