Self love is a radical act (written by Thando Hopa)

 

#LoveFirst

...."You know self love is a radical act. I'm not talking about self-love from a beauty angle I am talking about it from a general political standpoint. So many of our identities are devalued in a capitalist system. Our blackness, our womanhood, our age, our socio-economic status, the colour of our skins and and and... We are trying to be creative, be family orientated, make a living, build healthy relationships, foster value creation in what we do, BUT, while this is happening, we are multitasking, because we're simultaneously carrying bodies that have to fight off stigmatization threat, consider harm avoidance, undertake risk analysis in contexts where we lack social capital. This can be seriously exhausting and will probably hurt you in ways you can't immediately unpack.

My understanding of self love (as I learn it) is that it is a practice that needs effort, because you're consistently countering many forms of built in cultural devaluation towards your body.

Self love, to me, is to commit to living and speaking your truth even when it is inconvenient. It is to pursue compassion for yourself by looking for the wins in battles you feel you've lost. It is to believe that you are capable of improvement and growth. It is to understand that your self worth is not up for negotiation to anyone. . It is to believe that you are deserving of joy and lightness. It is to know that you're doing the best you can under the circumstances.

What I have tried to practice in my recent history is that when your mind is hurt because you've fought off psychological warfare that comes with a capitalist culture, and you are not in good shape at the end of the day – return to spaces that remind you of love. This can be family, cooking, writing, reading, cuddling with your partner... whatever it is. Return to a place where the unedited version of you feels at home, accepted and gets to re-experience love during those moments.

Calm your mind, rejuvenate, laugh, center yourself and move out into the world once more armed with self love as your most potent tool of resistance. . "

Photo credit @mytruth.tv