Think about the most recent moment that brought you joy or content. Think about yourself in that moment. Who/what brought you joy? How did you feel inside? What did you do to express your joy? Did you feel uplifted? If you did, there are high chances that you had a little sparkle on your face or an extra spring in your step. That real glow reflects our inner being. That glow or vibe that we carry doesn’t have to be situation-specific, we can constantly fuel and nurture it by getting down to the basics behind it.
True glow radiates from the pursuit of staying true to our authentic self. It’s a reflection of self-love, healthy habits, a balanced mind and human connection – all of which form the fabric of our being.
Self-love: Self-love is the feeling of love and appreciation for our self. When you truly love yourself, you can feel it on the inside. The kind that fills you with strength, confidence and the compassion to show up as your best version for those around you and in the things that you do. Bath bombs, spa sessions and getaways are all incredible ways to love yourself and we all need that sometime. However, self-love as a practice is beyond these simple pleasures; it’s a feeling that arises from actions that are backed up by both love and acceptance of our self.
Healthy Habits: We’ve probably encountered several books and articles teaching us the in and out of habit building. That’s because, our life can be seen as a sum of the different habits we engage in; one habit can be life-changing. Our days are filled with several, tiny little habits that contribute to who we are and what we do. It’s important to both build new habits that help us become better and let go of old habits that might not serve us anymore. To be more intentional about having healthy habits, build and sustain habits around your different goals and vision.
Balanced Mind: It all begins in the mind. Our mind is the home of our thoughts and feelings, two key driving factors to who we are and what we do. We perceive the world around us through our present state of mind. Regulating and caring for our mental health makes us feel clear-minded and mindful. A mindful outlook to situations leads to better outcomes than having a mind-full outlook which may often leave you feeling emotionally exhausted. Emotional regulation, mindfulness and distress tolerance are few practices that can help achieve a balanced and resilient state of mind. Focus on what your mental health needs are and do more of it.
Human Connection: There’s no doubt that lunch with your girl gang, coffee with your co-worker or a date with your partner would make you feel elated! Life is always better when we do it with others. Being with others and building connections helps us get out of our head and into the real world. We practice skills like empathy, communication, kindness, patience and we feel encouraged by listening to their stories and in supporting their journeys. Consistent, meaningful human connection is so vital to our life.
These four truths, when internalized and done with intent, can lead us to feeling confident, secure, courageous and encouraged. This would reflect through our actions and add that extra sparkle on our face. Keep growing, keep glowing!