Self-love is the idea that one must love oneself to achieve happiness and love from others. It always made me feel some type of way. To survive, we are forced to constantly grind; to hustle. If that wasn't enough, we face daily oppression, including racism, sexism, ableism, transphobia, homophobia, colorism, texturism, and more! Self-love seems more and more like a folk tale similar to the American Dream: a goal that was not created for people of the global majority.
Here, we strive for Soul Love, the importance of loving on your soul, spirit, and inner self. Take off the shackles of grind culture for a moment. Remove the materialism, the comparisons, and the roles you play. Inhale. Exhale. Who are you if the world didn't tell you who you are?
Soul Love is the difference between surviving and living. We must shine a light on the pure gold within each of our individual identities and all our intersections. When done, we are reminded of our inherent power to rest, play, and dream. We are not the problem; structural and institutional barriers are. Soul Love acknowledges this tense reality and assists us all in working smarter rather than harder. This loving helps us return to who we truly are.
