Earlier this month, we had a discussion at my weight loss support group about self-love. It has something that I took to heart. For the longest time when I get angry and frustrated about one thing or another, there can be a tactic when I am not my best self and will put myself down for the inability to be what I expect of myself. And while I am not always correcting what I do, I learn from my mistakes and try to work to move forward from where I made my mistakes.

It can be hard to realize that the things that I sometimes say about myself to loved ones in a passive way because I sometimes disregard identifying my feelings about something that is bothering me turns into irrational thoughts that are not true but in a way that I want to get attention in a negative way. I do realize that it is a bad habit and  need to learn to love myself totally, flaws and all, it is a process that takes time and grace.

No one is perfect. That is the sad truth about humans and life. We all have imperfect flaws and challenges that can be hard to live with or bear. Being autistic and having mental health challenges is not easy. I am truly blessed to have been able to do the things that I have and continue to do in my life. There are times when I become frustrated with myself because I cannot do things like everyone else in the world, but I also know that there are many. Part of it is knowing that I am still capable of many things, but my anxiety holds me back from some of those things and it is up to me to work at conquering the things that I believe are challenging because my anxiety is telling me that it is.

It is working to love myself for where I am today, being proud of who I am and what I have done to inspire so many people, including those who I have never met in person. While I always say that it is never about the count of followers or subscribers on platforms, it  does personally boost my spirits when I do see the numbers increase and stay in the mass that they do. While I do know that it is not about it, I know that I am doing good work not only in the Dustin’s Dynasty platform but also in many other ways and that I am an asset to so many that I know needs to keep going by continuing to take care of my overall health, including my physical and mental health.

If there is something about myself that I am not happy with, I know I must learn to love it or do something to make my life happier. Life is good for me right now, but there is always room for improvement and for that I need to keep the dreams high and know that I am impossible of so much if I allow myself to work past the fears I have about things and work to reach for the stars. I know I can be a good person and love myself even more if I address the issues that I need to work on rather than kicking the can down the road and say, “maybe later.”

Maybe “later” will be too late and will hit tough to the point that doing what is necessary can send you in a tailwind. Therefore, it is loving yourself in the present moment and working on continuing to imagine how better you feel if you work towards loving yourself for your flaws and challenges instead of thinking about them in a negative mindset. Granted, not everything is perfect, and things are not always pleasant or easy. But the thought of not only giving up but loving yourself by knowing that you matter, you are enough, and you are loved can speak volumes in knowing that it is important to love yourself and be kind to everyone that you meet in your path.