Disney has got it all wrong! How many times have we witnessed the clichéd fairytale narrative where Prince Charming miraculously appears to save the helpless damsel, they instantly fall deeply in love, and the story concludes with a “happily ever after”? I can only fathom the countless instances this formula has been recycled.

Disney is not the only one who has exploited this concept. Hollywood movies, TV shows, plays, and books, to name a few, all have implied a similar notion of needing to find a man to be truly happy. There are a multitude of things a partner can do to contribute to your happiness, but that doesn’t mean your joy should be utterly dependent on that person.

On the contrary, a partner should amplify the vibrancy you already possess, rather than being the sole source of it.

Have you ever come across the phrase “wait until you meet your other half”? The other half of what exactly? A pie, a cookie, or a cake? Last time I checked, we weren’t any of those things, so why should we be seeking another half?

Sure, we all hope to meet someone who can add some excitement to our lives without sacrificing our essence. Wanting and needing a partner are two different things. We might wish for a significant other, but that doesn’t mean we require a partner to experience contentment. 

If you believe you need to be in an affectionate relationship to feel fulfilled, then a lover is not what you need.

Indeed, we all once dreamt of encountering a fairy-tale type of love and feeling intoxicated with happiness. But at what cost? At the steep price of neglecting ourselves by seeking external validation. With mounting anticipation, we patiently await the selfless reciprocation of the love we give. Unfortunately, nothing can guarantee that the time and energy invested into building a solid relationship will ever be appreciated.

It is an unjust way of looking at things, yet that has been the norm for centuries. Where do we leave the fairy-tale, we ought to have for ourselves? One where we don’t need to rely on anyone in order to be saved or rescued.

Furthermore, we need to start romanticizing our life by treating ourselves with tenderness and kindness.

We all want a fairy-tale type of love, which is a given. It’s human nature to long for a partner who will sweep us off our feet and give us an everlasting love that enriches our existence. However, I can’t expect him to fulfill my life because that’s not his job; it’s mine. Our responsibility is to treasure and respect ourselves before letting anyone into our lives.

The desire for obtaining minimal affection from others will gradually fade away by being subconsciously aware of our values without the need of seeking external reassurance. The love you possess for yourself should surpass the love anyone else can give you. This means our self-love must be incredibly strong to prevent us from accepting anything that falls short of our own standards.

Having the self-respect necessary to recognize the kind of love we truly deserve often boils down to trusting our instincts.

Love is abundant, but discovering high-quality love can feel like a pirate searching for treasure without a map.

The kind of admiration each person seeks varies based on their personality traits, self-confidence, and self-esteem. It’s a subjective matter.

Does this imply that one form of love is superior to another? It’s possible! Not all love is equal; some are pure and healthy, while others are toxic. While love is commonly associated with warm feelings of affection and tenderness, these alone do not guarantee a genuine type of love. True love involves recognizing the importance of prioritizing oneself, while also accepting and embracing our individuality, including our preferences, values, qualities, perspectives, and more.

Self-respect is the cousin of self-love. Our profound self-love is evident when we respect ourselves fully. Any threat toward our persona is unwelcome. We understand the power that comes from honoring ourselves to stand up against even the slightest hint of disrespect.

Without self-respect, we would be unable to recognize how much we deserve to be respected.

Fairy tales are nice, but not at the expense of our self-love. In general, relationships can be liberating as well as hold us hostage. The love we possess for ourselves is the only thing that sets us free, making us aware that our happiness does not have to be bound to anyone. Prince Charming might have saved you once, but that does not mean he will do it a second time. Instead of waiting for someone to bail us out, we should work on learning to be content with the person we are. Once we master the beauty of self-love, we will become unstoppable.

Stay Beautiful XoXo

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