Give Yourself Some Extra Love ~ You Deserve It 💖

Posted by Victoria Nelthropp on October 10, 2019

Gif by Bea Crespo

Today is World Mental Health Day! While we should advocate against the social stigma of mental illness every day, having a day on our calendars makes space to shed a little extra light on global mental health education and awareness.

The connection of DIY genital molding kits and mental health might not jump out at you immediately—but it's there. One of the many reasons we stand so proudly behind our products is that they make a difference. Because self-expression, sexual expression, pleasure, self-love, and acceptance all make a huge difference in life—especially when it comes to mental health. And guess what? We all struggle with self-love at times and many of us live with mental illness every day—and we are still fabulous as fuck.

We must first love and accept ourselves, before all else. In the words of the extravagant Ru Paul, "If you can't love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?”

Putting ourselves first is hard, so we're here to remind you that you deserve it, and offer a few suggestions on how to give yourself a little extra love ~

IT'S OKAY TO SAY "NO"

Saying "NO" is tough, but something that is vital in creating boundaries for our mental health and to make space for some quality "me time." If people react negatively to you setting boundaries, it's most likely because they benefited from you lacking them in the past (and that sounds like a personal problem). Listen to your gut and lead by example; saying no is something we should all do more often.

EVERYBODY HAS A DAY (OR A WEEK)

We've all been there—those days, weeks, or months where we need a little extra patience and understanding from those around us. As demanding as the world may seem, people will understand. We are all connected by empathy. Be transparent about what you need and those around you will not only appreciate your honesty, but will most likely be able to relate.

PRACTICE PATIENCE & COMPASSION (WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS)

Being kind to yourself comes in a lot of different forms. When shit's hitting the fan, or you didn't make the deadline, or totally spaced you were supposed to feed your sister's cat. Babe, the cat will be fine. Give yourself a break. We can't do it all. Give yourself—and others—permission to mess up, we're all doing our best when it comes down to it.

TAKE SOME TIME TO CHECK-IN WITH YOUR BODY

Living in the fast-paced world that we do, it's easy to get disconnected from our physical bodies. The first step in a healthy mind and body is making sure your basic needs are met—sleep, water, nutrition, movement, and laughter (we threw this one in because it's important to us). Set aside a couple of minutes every day to breathe and listen to your body. Any aches or pains? No one knows you, like YOU. Let your intuition guide the way!

GO ON A SELF-CARE DATE (WITH YOURSELF)

Self-care means something different to everyone. Often, it's interpreted as a luxury, but self-care can be a totally free and easy addition to your everyday routine. Start by setting aside a date night with yourself once a week. This could be a mediation, bath, walk around your neighborhood, disconnecting from reality with your favorite trash tv, or even a dance party in your underwear. You do you, boo.