Keeping the balance to all aspects of our lives – our work, play, and as women, most importantly, our personal relationships – is crucial to living a fulfilled life. Yet it can often be our biggest challenge. While we all want to give and receive love, whether from our friends, a partner or our families, it can often be the first area of our busy lives to get neglected.
Most women I know agree that the one thing we all need more of in our multi-tasking activities is time. Personally I could do with at least twice the amount of hours a week necessary for my work as well as finding time to spend time with my loved ones. As a mother, daughter, sister, friend, lover – and these days – a grandmother of three, I am blessed with the many beautiful people in my life that I wish to spend quality time with. And it’s not just me that’s busy. My stand-up comedian son is permanently on the road touring and my daughter lives overseas.
Like many modern families, we don’t live near each other, we are all busy and we have to make a determined effort to stay in touch. But with the wonders of technology – and with particular thanks to the inventors of Skype – we are able see and speak to each other regularly. And we do of course meet as often as we can – there is nothing better in my life than a big real-life hug from one of my three gorgeous grandchildren.
The ‘L’ Word
And with all the love, weddings and celebration that are in the air this April, it’s a great opportunity to recognize just how important it is to acknowledge love in our lives. Do you ever consciously note if you tell those close to you just how much you love them?
In a world where the word ‘love’ can often become abused by the media and reality TV shows, just connecting with this most important emotion of all becomes key to our wellbeing. And love, as we know, always starts with the self. How can we feel love for others when we don’t, on some level, believe we deserve it ourselves or see ourselves as lovable? And sadly this is the case for so many women.
We can so often judge ourselves as we think others see us from the outside. How absurd – yet painful – that we think we are unlovable because of being too fat, too thin, too old, too small, too tall… every woman knows how long that list can be. Yet of course in reality we are all beautiful. Beautiful in our grace, our generosity of heart, our kindness, our empathy, our compassion, our strength, our courage and so many other wonderful feminine qualities that make up the wonder of being a woman.
This month our exclusive exercises are all about writing love letters, starting with one to yourself. Write yourself a love letter – best with pen and paper – listing all the wonderful qualities you have, the powerful achievements you have had, both personal and professional, while ensuring that you remind yourself of all the kindnesses and compassion that you constantly show to others. After you have written this letter, put it in an envelope and post it to yourself. It’s always so powerful to receive a love letter through the post, especially from yourself.
Reaching out
Secondly, get in touch with the one person you’ve been thinking of for weeks. Tell them what’s in your heart and why it is important for you stay connected. The reward will be yours.
Lynne’s affirmations
Lynne’s columns are based on affirmation cards from her successful Plant Seeds and Pick the Blooms deck, illustrated by Ann Field, which have inspired women all over the world.
B.Hive
Lynne’s newest venture, B.Hive, the women’s business centres opened in collaboration with Regus, have become in just six months, an inspiration and a venue for many women running their own businesses, often as Lynne did, from their kitchen tables.
The Covent Garden B.Hive flagship has now been joined by two new B.Hives just opened in Manchester and Bristol. To find out more visit bhive.co.
