My Self-Love Hurt
I know I probably shouldn't open a think piece on the greatest revolution of all time with a headliner about pain.
However, it's the truth, my truth. The part we often leave out while we lead others on this quest to find rainbows, peace, and one-of-a-kind men that we label as "unicorns." I love a unicorn man no less than the next but we're adults. Life isn't Little Pony.
And if I am completely honest – my self-love hurt.
In the beginning at least.
Loving myself ruthlessly began with my walking away from the only man I'd ever loved. The only man that knew what my heart really looked like.
It meant removing the pedestal I had placed him on, and putting my needs and wants first.
The period that followed my decision looked something like me dropping my son to school and crying to my favorite Toni Braxton or Heather Headley songs until the time came to pick him up. Cooking dinner for two (how do you even make dinner for two people?), and loving on the little person we had created together until it was time to cry myself to bed.
I was just going through the motions.
Self-love was writing pages and pages of crappy mediocre poetry to get my feelings out instead of blowing his phone up with paragraphs of hurt, longing for closure. It was putting me first, which was something completely foreign to me.
And it hurt.
It was unexpectedly hard for me to refuse to return to an abusive relationship, yet I still felt more hurt for the tears on his cheeks, than the bruises on my heart.
I have the poems to prove it.
Loving myself ruthlessly included severing not just that relationship, but I then had to begin the daunting task of distancing myself from people that I knew weren't good to, or for me.
That list included my best friend, or what I thought was a best friend at the time. It included everyone that was one person when I was around and another when I wasn't.
That kind of love can f**k with you on all kinds of levels - the perfect breeding ground for insecurity.
It included friends that secretly spewed envy on me as I slowly began to rise, those that could always be found in the darkness, but never to celebrate growth and those that simply refused to grow.
Like attracts like. When you're in a place of not loving self, you tend to attract a whole lot of people that don't love you either.
Loving myself ruthlessly meant reclaiming my time; saying "yes," to the "boring" educational events and "no" to the club.
I am a refined young woman today, but that doesn't mean that years ago I wasn't going off to the latest dancehall in the club with my girls. That being said, it really didn't feel great at first.
It was new and uncomfortable.
Our conversations were of substance, growth, and getting to the next level of inner peace. Whether they were sharing a new read that had enlightened their minds or a "small win" throughout the week that gave them hope – they were a looking glass into what I, too, could become with a little personal development.
Listen, I don't say any of this to discourage your journey of loving self like no other. I encourage the feat and will be your personal cheerleader if need be. I just don't like to mislead people.
It's going to hurt.
It's going to burn.
It's going to feel like your heart is breaking into tiny little pieces.
But it's only so you can rebuild it stronger this time.
Some of the people you love most won't be here for this new and improved version of self, but I urge you to fight the good fight anyway.
I have a newfound sense of confidence and strength – not the social media stuff we post with airy quotes from dead poets.
The kind that no man can beat out of me, the kind that shines regardless of the dirt thrown on my name, the kind that allows me to smile in the face of adversity and hover over the bullshit with grace.
Turn the pain into power, sis.
xoNecole is always looking for new voices and empowering stories to add to our platform. If you have an interesting story or personal essay that you'd love to share, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us at submissons@xonecole.com
Featured image by Giphy
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Danielle Smith is a Toronto-based Personal Development Junkie on the gram @youbettaglowgirl. She keeps her hands full as a Writer, Speaker, Stylist & Non-Profit Founder, all while doing her most important job as a full-time mama of one. Marching to the beat of her own drum and a playlist of her favourite 90s R&B, she's blazed a path of her own.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage