Letters to Destroy: Letter of Self-Love

My dad made my bed when I was at work

Letters to Destroy (a Fill in the Blank Journal)

              Letter of Self-Love: What Would Happen If I Loved Myself the Way I Wish I Would

Dear Inner Me, the ME that I know lives deep inside of ME!

Why am I like this? How did I get here? Why don’t I treat myself the way I know I deserve to be treated? I find it really hard to _____accept_____ myself and I have no clue how to ____talk to myself nicely_____.

What could I really be, do or have if I began to _____believe______ in myself?

I could believe that I will make it as a writer, that someone is interested in what I have to say. 

Why do I hold myself back?

I’m punishing myself for trauma that happened to me in my teens and the way I reacted to it as well as how I act during manic episodes.

Why do I think I don’t deserve the kinds of experiences I want for myself?

I am ashamed of my past behavior. As I mentioned, it stemmed from trauma but also bipolar manic episodes.

Why do I value what someone else has said about me more than what I think about myself?

I believe other people can see me in a more accurate way than I do therefore I take their misunderstanding and insults to heart. 

What is the worst thing that could happen to me if I tried to treat myself in the ways I wish I would? What would be so bad about truly loving myself?

I don’t know.  I want to love myself so badly but I take criticism and cruelty to heart and let it destroy myself.

Can I make a commitment to myself right here, right now on this piece of paper?

I, Leigh Winters, will not call myself fat or stupid (I do it all the time). I will treat myself to candles and bubble baths and I’ll guard my alone time.

From now on I will work hard to say more loving and kind things to myself. I will do my best to be better to me. I will give myself a chance to everything I know I could be.

I’m rooting for myself,

Leigh