I've been thinking a lot about how loving ourselves is key to changing habits around food and eating. And lately, as my world has crumbled in major ways (marriage, my husband's health), instead of self love, I've felt a lot of self-loathing.

Today I listened to a podcast about this topic. And Renee Stephens suggests that if self love seems too hard, to start with forgiveness. That it's a step by step process and we can start with forgiveness as a way to get closer to self love.

I'm writing today to give it a try.

I forgive myself for...

Being imperfect
Binging during a time of extreme stress, pain and insecurity
Being a wife who made many mistakes
Being a mother who sometimes is distracted, impatient, and disappointing
Being a daughter sometimes still needs help
Not seeing the signs of marital strife
Not knowing my husband's illness was so far along
Not following through on speaking with loving kindness all the time
Not always being optimistic or grateful or positive, though I know there is so much for which I have to be optimistic, grateful and positive...

I'm hoping that as I can open up to forgiving myself, I'll start to accept myself, then hopefully will come self love. One step at a time...