Loving Yourself Like Your Pet Loves You

Have you ever met someone who melts your heart immediately and leaves you feeling relaxed just in their presence?

What if that someone was you? 

Okay, I sense an eye roll moment. Or perhaps I’m projecting because when I first considered this as a possibility, I may have scoffed and rolled my eyes, too. 

Love yourself. It’s so, well, cliche. It also comes with its limitations. 

I mean, for the most part, it’s super easy for us to dismiss someone else’s shortcomings. However, my guess is that if you did the same thing, you’d beat yourself up. Repeatedly. 

This is why I penned an entire article on learning to love yourself the way your dog loves you. For full disclosure, CH2 (Celebrate Hilton Head, Bluffton, & Beyond) was spotlighting the pets of the Lowcountry, so I sort of couldn’t help myself.

Think about it: you can do no wrong in the eyes of your pet. They will look at you lovingly on your best and worst days. 

To see how I weave it all together, you can click on the link below. 

Here’s an excerpt to get you started: 

“How utterly amazing would it be to unconditionally love yourself the way your pet loves you? Regardless of the day’s nagging pressures and expectations, imagine loving and accepting yourself without judgment, conditions, or reservation. 

It’s difficult, right? My self-talk is quite judgmental at the thought of unequivocal self-love and acceptance. I suppose it’s more of a meandering than a destination. 

If you will, walk with me as we navigate a few ways to be more like our dogs (and cats, too).”

In the meantime, if you find you’re consistently hard on yourself, it may be time to speak to someone other than your inner critic.

If you’re in South Carolina and want to have a different relationship with your thoughts, reach out to me at the link below. I specialize in helping people form better relationships with themselves so they can experience more peace, ease, and confidence. 

Stay Curious,

Sheila

Sheila Tucker is a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of Heart Mind & Soul Counseling. She empowers clients who overthink, worry, and experience their fair share of anxiety to become more rooted in peace, ease, and confidence. When not in the office, you'll find her walking her pups or planning her next mountain getaway with her husband.  

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