The Irresistible Introvert by Michaela Chung

Author:Michaela Chung
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2016-03-16T04:00:00+00:00

Self-Loving Rituals

In the temple, rituals are conducted as symbolic actions that represent a passage or change. For introverts, rituals provide sacred grounds for self-love to take root. Many of us have mixed feelings about the word “ritual.” We imagine animal sacrifices and naked fire dancing. But a ritual can be as simple as sitting in silence for five minutes in the morning. It can be as sparsely luxurious as sipping hot lemon water and staring into space. What turns these everyday activities into a ritual is intention and repetition. The intention of a quiet ritual might be to relax and refuel. Or it might be a way of reconnecting with our intuition—a sort of daily check-in with ourselves. The repetitive aspect of rituals ensures that they make their mark on our lives. However short and simplistic the ritual, when done daily, it becomes a part of who we are.

When I was little, my brothers and I spent every other weekend at my dad’s house. After he picked us up on Friday evening, we would always stop by the corner store near his apartment. We were each allowed to choose one treat. This was the routine, our ritual. We had other simple rituals at Dad’s house. In the morning, he always cooked us a breakfast of eggs and wieners or fish sticks. On Sunday evenings we gathered around his little black TV and watched Road to Avonlea (a Canadian family show set in the 1900s). Somehow, the repetition of these weekend rituals reinforced their intention. My father may be a soft-spoken man of few words, but his actions spoke loud and clear. Scrambled eggs and fish sticks said “I care,” while our predictable trips to the corner store translated into “I love you.” That’s how it can be with our daily rituals. Simple actions done with loving intentions translate into self-love. Consistency ensures that the message really sets in.

Self-love might feel unnatural after years of self-loathing. Our inner temple is graffitied and full of insults toward ourselves. We find it hard to feel at peace when we have been at war with ourselves for so long. Self-love is the most important bridge we cross on the journey toward our true nature. Our authentic self cannot be seen through the lens of self-hatred. So, fill your cup, focus on your strengths, and find a safe haven within yourself.

Now that you’ve come home to yourself, and all the glowing qualities you embody, it’s time to share your treasure with those around you. In the second part of this book, we’ll discuss how to shed the mask of extroversion and begin revealing your inner irresistible to the world.

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