I’m a firm believer that even when we’re out of school, we should always be learning and improving ourselves. I’ve always preferred self-improvement books over any other types. To me, it’s not the cry for help that some people joke about, it’s admitting that we’re not perfect and that we’re working toward becoming the best version of ourselves.

So, with that in mind, let’s take the chance to better ourselves, together, as a community. Self-improvement, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is the act or process of improving oneself by one’s own actions; it is also an instance or result of such improvement. This improvement helps re-focus our lives and typically results in a positive change. It takes time, but the time dedicated to self-improvement is substantial.

Join us this month in this simple challenge: Find one thing you admire about your partner every single day. 

While it’s not the case for every relationship, there are plenty of us that fall into a pattern after years of being together, and we start taking our partners for granted. The little things that used to make us smile have become just something they do, and we tend to focus on their flaws rather than what makes them outstanding. Taking the time out of your day to consciously look for the positive attributes in the person you love rekindles love and reminds you of why you fell for them in the first place.

Join us in this month’s challenge over the next two weeks. We’ll be back reporting back in 14 days with an update on how WE did. Hopefully, we’ll hear back from some of you as well on how your two-week self-improvement journey went.

Add our editor Mina Yan on WeChat (ID: Wilhelmina87) to share your experience on the challenge.

Images: Pexels

There’s so much talk about self-care, loving yourself, loving everyone. This is a common theme that comes up in many of my coaching sessions, which many are trying to grapple with. I felt like I needed to dig deeper below the surface to understand what we were really asking for when we want self-love and care for ourselves.

What does it mean or even look like when we have love for ourselves?

This question brought me to face-to-face with the mirror, and I asked myself: “How do I really feel about me?” I noticed the emotions that came to life as I asked that question. I tried not to judge them. I let myself see them for what they were.

The first response I ever got was, “I don’t know. I feel indifferent.”  This made me wonder how I could say that I loved myself or that I need to care about myself, when I didn’t even know how I felt about myself.

Why didn’t I feel the rush of excitement that comes when being in the presence of a loved one?

These honest and very raw reflections got me curious on the path of self-love.

By working on “relationship building” with myself every single day, I’m finding myself slowly putting the pieces of myself together. Although these pieces will always be changing, I’m getting to know my real self all over again. I’m discovering versions that I never knew existed.

I’m slowly finding what it truly feels like to “come home” to yourself; feeling safe and comfortable with who you are, where you are and in your own skin and body. Your place in the world becomes clearer. You finally find the place you belong – to yourself. I know all this might look and sound quite vague and wishy-washy, but you have to feel it to experience it. Words cannot describe the depth of experience it brings.

Everything I was looking for externally, I found in me. I continue to find in me. This has been my experience with self-love so far.

While this may be just the start, I believe the potential it brings can be truly powerful, not just for ourselves but for the world around us. We each have a circle of influence around us that can benefit beautifully from this practice.

If this is something you are ready for, I’d love for you to join me in wandering down this road of together.  Check out details in the poster.

The Orchid Hotel
Nov 15 from 2pm – 4.30pm
Dec 6 from 2pm – 4.30pm
Jan 10 from 2pm – 4.30pm
Baochao Hutong No. 65, Dongcheng District

Photos: unsplash