Personally, I have some principles when it comes to overseas travel, and I strongly believe that these principles have helped me to cultivate self-love.
- I have at least one overseas trip every year.
Usually, I have annual leave twice a year (two weeks each time). Therefore, I have plenty of time to enjoy overseas travel.
My biggest hobbies are reading and travel. My favorite things in the world are books; my favorite experiences on the planet are trips.
A lot of people like spending money on possessions, but I like spending money on experiences. In a way, reading books is also a kind of experience which is similar to seeing movies.
My good friend Val only buys things from second-hand stores in order to save money. But she spends more money on experiences, e.g., going to the theatre, visiting exotic countries, reading books, etc. There must be a reason why we are close friends.
Speaking of reading books, I have a rule: I read at least one book per month. Thus, every year I read at least 12 books. Also, I write about what I have learned from each book.
As to travel, my principle is to have at least one overseas trip per year (sometimes two trips a year). Then I write about each trip that I’ve gone on.
I travel solo, which is a rule that I stick to 95% of the time. I love the ultimate freedom.
- Self-love is about prioritizing values that are important to me.
Since my most important value is experience, reading and travel are paramount in my life. When I prioritize my values, I’m the happiest version of myself.
That’s the best way to cultivate self-love organically.
What’s important to you? I’d like you to write down one or two most important values of yours and focus on them passionately.
What’s more, if you are looking for a soulmate, be sure to find someone that shares the same values with you authentically, because that’s the ideal way to build a happy life in the long term.
Interestingly, many years ago, I was dating a guy who told me that his hobbies were reading and travel. Yet the only book that I saw him reading was the book on his table when he started dating me. Throughout that relationship, I didn’t see him reading another book. Apparently, he said that his hobbies were travel and reading in order to build rapport with me at that time. However, lack of authenticity led to the breakup in the end.
Hence, apart from shared values, your ideal partner must have integrity.
When you know what you want, you are fostering radical self-love.
“My self-love is expressed through reading and overseas travel.”
