Loving Yourself Better: A Sacred Journey of Self-Care

"You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed. And you are beautiful." – Amy Bloom

In a world that constantly urges us to strive for perfection, it’s easy to lose sight of our innate beauty. We hold ourselves to impossibly high standards, measuring our worth by achievements, appearances, and external validation. But what if we embraced our imperfections as part of what makes us uniquely beautiful? What if, instead of striving for perfection, we focused on loving ourselves better?

The Essence of Loving Yourself Better

Loving yourself is not about arrogance or self-indulgence—it’s about honoring your worth and treating yourself with the same kindness you so freely give to others. It’s about recognizing that your value is not conditional upon meeting societal expectations, but rather an intrinsic truth.

Self-care is the vessel through which we nurture this love. When we tend to our mind, body, and spirit with care and compassion, we reinforce the truth that we are deserving of love—just as we are.

Practical Ways to Love Yourself Better

1. Speak to Yourself with Kindness

Pay attention to your inner dialogue. Are you your own harshest critic? Replace self-judgment with words of encouragement. Speak to yourself as you would a dear friend.

2. Embrace Your Imperfections

Your scars, quirks, and mistakes are part of your story. Instead of seeing them as flaws, view them as testaments to your resilience and growth.

3. Prioritize Rest and Nourishment

Your body carries you through each day—honor it with adequate rest, nourishing foods, and gentle movement that brings you joy.

4. Create a Sacred Self-Care Ritual

Whether it’s journaling, meditation, or soaking in a warm bath, set aside intentional time to care for yourself. These moments remind you that you are worthy of love and attention.

5. Set Boundaries That Honor You

Protect your energy by setting boundaries with people, work, and situations that drain you. Loving yourself means saying no when needed and prioritizing your well-being.

6. Connect with What Brings You Joy

Do more of what lights up your soul. Whether it’s creative expression, time in nature, or meaningful connections, joy is a powerful act of self-love.

7. Practice Gratitude for Yourself

Each day, acknowledge something about yourself that you appreciate. Your strength, your kindness, your perseverance—celebrate the unique essence of you.

You Are Enough

Self-love is not a destination but a practice—one that requires patience, grace, and commitment. As you embark on this journey, remember that you are already whole. You are beautifully imperfect, and that is enough.

So today, take a deep breath and whisper to yourself: I am worthy. I am loved. I am enough.

This article is based on our Deep Dive curriculum for February where we’re focusing on Loving Yourself Better. You can join us HERE.

Embracing Joy Through Adversity Interview of Janette Stuart by Katarina Todorovic

Written by Katarina Todorovic | Published On April 15, 2024 on MysticMag

In a world often shadowed by uncertainty and challenges, Janette Stuart emerges as a radiant beacon of hope and joy. As the Emissary of Joy at Angel Angles, a best-selling author, angelic practitioner, and a triumphant survivor of pancreatic cancer, Janette’s journey epitomizes resilience, faith, and the transformative power of positivity. Through her remarkable experiences and unwavering spirit, Janette has touched countless lives, illuminating pathways to inner peace and healing. In this exclusive article-interview, we delve into Janette’s inspiring story, exploring her insights on navigating adversity, embracing joy, and finding profound meaning amidst life’s trials. Join Mystic Mag as we embark on a journey of enlightenment and empowerment with Janette Stuart, a true testament to the extraordinary strength of the human spirit.

Can you share a pivotal moment or experience that led you to discover your connection with angels and pursue angelic practices?

My “why I do what I do” now came as a result of my beloved brother’s sudden illness, rapid decline, and passing in 2012. I grew up in the church and knew about Angels but didn’t know they could help “regular people” just like me. I thought you had to be a Saint or Holy One to work with the Angels. I found a woman who worked with the Angels, and her words on Facebook shared the love and wisdom from the Angels, which were like a healing balm to my soul during that difficult time of my brother’s rapid health decline in 2012. I could feel the love pouring my way from the Angels during those dark days. I felt loved, supported, protected, and held. Following a year of grief, I reached out to have a private Angel Card Reading with her, and it was marvelous and healing. It was pivotal in my life, and a mere six months following my first angel card session, I was taking classes on how I, too, could assist people during life’s challenges by sharing the love, joy, and peace I received from the Angels and became a Certified Angel Card Reader.

As a Best Selling Author, you’ve likely encountered various challenges in your writing journey. How do you navigate obstacles and maintain inspiration throughout your creative process?

When I first began my business in 2015 following a successful career in local public administration, I was afraid to put my name on my work. I came from a financial and human resources background, and switching to using my soul wisdom and guidance, I thought, what will people think when I profess to channel Angelic Love and Wisdom? I felt the imposter syndrome, with feelings of not being good, credentialed, or brilliant enough. I’m sure many of your readers can identify with those feelings of inadequacy which happen to many of us at various points in our lives.

I wrote my first book in 2016 as I was guided by divine inspiration. From the age of 8, I knew I would be a writer and author. I self-published and didn’t even know there was a whole process to get your words out to readers. I had several thousand followers on social media then and thought I would sell a thousand books easily. Boy, I was in for a surprise!

Although disappointed in the initial sales, I wasn’t deterred from my mission to release a series of devotional books in my volume set, “On a Path of Joy.” I felt guided to release four volumes before I became ill in the fall of 2018.

In early 2019, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and for a few months, my writing was put on hold while I underwent treatment. I began blogging about my journey to provide hope for others also experiencing that difficult physical and emotional healing journey. Today, I am thriving, and I am so grateful.

I write every day to express myself and obtain clarity. I share my writing as inspired, and I am in quietude daily to nurture and fill my cup with divine inspiration. As an empath, I require much time in solitude to recharge my energy and nurture my creativity.

What type of services do you offer?

I’m happy to provide private 1:1 Angel Card Readings and 1:1 Self-Care Strategies sessions on Zoom.

Your blog, Angel Angles, serves as a platform for spreading positivity and spiritual guidance. How do you ensure authenticity and relevance in your content while catering to diverse audiences?

My Angelic guidance is to spread love, joy, and peace through the content shared on my blog, and I like to remind the visitors of their divine heritage and that they are not alone. Lately, Self-Care and Self-Love have been a huge focus to share the reminder we are never alone; the Angels have our back. We each have at least two guardian angels who are with us our entire life and love us unconditionally. We don’t focus on any one religion but share universal love and compassion. Our audience has a diverse community of Angel lovers worldwide, and I rely on divine guidance regarding content and frequency.

Your work encompasses both spirituality and practicality. How do you reconcile these seemingly contrasting aspects in your teachings and writings?

For me, life is very simple. I am a spiritual being living here now, and so are you. It feels like we are more alike than dissimilar when we focus on the truth of our nature. I like to remind myself and others that we are here to shine our light and to live a life of love, joy, and peace. We came from Love, and that’s where we’ll return when this journey is over. I try to remember to view my world through the Divine lens of Love. I don’t always remember that concept, but I can begin again and lean into Love.

As someone who helps others connect with their divine inner wisdom, what advice would you give to individuals who feel disconnected or lost in their spiritual journey?

We are all unique individuals who came here for a specific purpose. Being our most authentic, true selves and sharing that bright light with the world brings fulfillment and joy. It doesn’t matter if you are excited about painting, cars, decorating, writing, music, cooking, crafts, technology, or animals…we all have something that sparks our creativity and makes us feel happy and grateful to be alive. We should point our compass to what brings us joy. Be your “you-est you” and I’ll be my Janette-est Janette.

We go amiss when we give away our personal power by hiding or shrinking our truest selves by turning from our joy and catering to others ideas of what is best for us, what we “should” do for a living, how we should live our lives, dress, behave, what we should acquire, attain, or how we should conform. That’s where we get disconnected or lost in life.