Could you complete the following sentence: “My journey to EXTREME SELF-LOVE began when…”
A: "My journey to EXTREME SELF-LOVE began when I had no choice to face myself. Following a difficult separation from my ex-fiancé in 2021, a second breakdown was not a problem. option for me, I therefore stepped out of my comfort zone for the first time, not only helping me to understand and identify with myself, but also to face my fears, to shape myself, to develop myself. trust. So, I would say that going on an adventure, alone, allowed me to fully experience my emotions and rebuild myself. This is the beginning of a great and eventful love story with myself. ."
What motivated you to take care of your physical and mental health, and what practices have helped you maintain this balance?
A: “ What motivated me to take care of my physical and mental health comes from just the love I have for myself. It is also due to the love I have for others. We live in a sick society. The concept of "metro, work, sleep" means that our priorities are no longer in the right place. I want to heal from my emotional wounds, I want to expand my self-confidence and strengthen my body. since it is the best recipe for inner peace, in the long term It is also the best recipe for attracting what is best for you as well as for maintaining beautiful and healthy relationships. that we love is taking care of ourselves first. Prioritizing our mental and physical health helps me stay present and authentic in all other areas of my life: relationships, work, etc."To make this world a better place. you need to start with you."
Have you encountered any moments of discouragement or plateaus in your journey to self-love? If so, what lessons did you learn from it?
A: "Of course. Losing my job, experiencing friendly and romantic breakups, depression, having imposter syndrome for the profession I want to pursue, multiple anxiety attacks, in short the list is long. You have to remember that self-love is not a level that you reach and which remains intact afterwards. On the contrary, self-love is a practice, a belief that you have to maintain every day. It hurts to. being told no, because you believe you are not enough You doubt your potential, your worth However, the best lesson I learned from all of this is that, in the end, I always finish. by thanking the Universe for all the times she told me No because she always came back to me with better Yes(es).
How do you define the notion of “success” as it relates to well-being, and how has this definition evolved over time?
A: "To me, success in wellness resembles the concept of Taoism, a Chinese tradition. Being detached in a healthy way from what may or may not happen. No matter the circumstances, staying grounded and at peace with what happens especially if it is beyond our control.
Life throws all kinds of obstacles at us. I haven't stopped receiving them for the last 2 years. She constantly tests me. And I'm adapting much more quickly than at the beginning, because I've learned over time that if it's out of my control, I have to detach myself from it.
So for me, successful well-being is achieving inner peace about who we were, what we are, and what we will become. Of what was, what is, and what is to come."
In a society obsessed with physical appearance, how do you find the strength to focus on deeper, more meaningful wellness goals?
A: "It's a constant struggle to break away from beauty standards and completely accept ourselves in our difference, but it's possible. I believe that my desire to heal and accept myself as I am is simply stronger than my desire to please others. It took me deconstruction, especially being a mixed race woman, I had for a long time a sort of identity crisis in relation to my appearance Beauty standards at the time and. even today are very fixed on European traits That said, I find strength in thinking about my ancestors are the union of several loves before me If these traits and characteristics have been loved until my. descendants, so why not be proud of it? We must literally reprogram our brain, allowing it to unlearn the lies that have been imposed on us. Our authenticity and our self-confidence have always been the most attractive thing we can offer and. those who impose the opposite on us simply want to make money off our insecurities.”
How do you balance your desire to achieve your performance goals with the importance of loving and accepting yourself as you currently are?
A: "I'm practicing moderation right now. I motivate myself to achieve my performance goals while reminding myself to enjoy life. To be here, now. I listen to my body. If it has a day where it particularly needs rest, so I recharge him if he needs movement, then we go all out. If he needs love, then I give him a little more than the other times. My key to finding balance is to truly, sincerely listen to ourselves and validate our emotions in the good and the worst times. That way every action comes from a place of intuition. “Restfully reaching goals”.
How do you protect yourself from comparison with others?
A: "I remind myself that whatever I notice in others is a reflection on me. The beauty I see in another is a reflection of what I have in myself. The jealousy I feel is also a mirror which reminds me where I need to dig and heal Comparison is the enemy of happiness, it will eat away at you because it makes you take the risk of devaluing yourself, but on the contrary, when you want something, it should be good for you. inspire. A radiant person can help another to shine while remaining lit."
What has been your biggest learning from publicly sharing your journey to extreme self-love, and how has self-love helped you in this process?
A: "In a society that takes advantage of people's (and especially women's) insecurities, loving oneself fully is an act of rebellion. Loving oneself is almost taboo or even frowned upon. By sharing my journey towards loving myself , it bothered some people Over time, I understood that I cannot be their savior What they are experiencing is not mine and their nastiness towards my publications reflects the struggle they must have with it. themselves. Hurtful words come from hurt people and self-love helped me let go of them.”
How do you define extreme self-love?
A: "EXTREME SELF-LOVE for me is defined as unconditional love towards oneself. And that does not mean that we love ourselves to the point of no longer wanting to evolve, on the contrary, it means that we love even though there is work to be done. It is closely linked to self-esteem and self-compassion. It includes not only the way we treat ourselves, but also our thoughts and thoughts. our feelings towards ourselves It is understanding ourselves (or trying), forgiving ourselves, motivating ourselves, reassuring ourselves in all our phases.”
What valuable advice would you give to someone who wants to start a wellness journey but feels overwhelmed or intimidated by the process?
A: "The best advice I can give you is to consult. A psychologist, a psychotherapist, a spiritual guide, a coach - in short, I think the best way to start is to understand our defense mechanisms, our limiting beliefs, where they come from and why we have them For my part, going to the sources of my wounds was the best way to start a healthy relationship with myself because I have. I was able to forgive myself, I was able to forgive others, and that's really where the healing begins."
How can we help you develop even more extreme self-love?
A: “I believe that one way to not only help me, but the collective, is representation. Making sure that the stories of all kinds of women are brought to the forefront. Women of color, women of religions, pregnant women, mothers, etc. It makes us feel less alone, we feel included and it creates a real community!
