Embark with us on an intimate exploration into the soul-nourishing practice of self-love, as we uncover the sacred act of loving ourselves in the way that God loves us. This episode peels back the layers of negative self-beliefs and strides into the light of self-acceptance. Through personal anecdotes and vulnerable moments, I reveal the pivotal experiences that propelled me from the depths of depression and low self-esteem to a place of empowerment. We delve into the significance of stillness, reflection, and journaling as tools to reconnect with our inner essence and the person we are destined to be.

This conversation invites you to discover the cathartic release of journaling—a powerful vessel for navigating through life's tumultuous emotions. I introduce the concept of a 'dump journal,' an unfiltered space to pour out your darkest feelings, thus initiating the healing process. We tackle the misconceptions around self-love, emphasizing its pivotal role in shaping how we support and extend love to others. Whether you find solace in the arms of a supportive network or are in search of alternative means to express vulnerability, this episode offers insights into the transformative journey of reclaiming your personal power.

Concluding our heartfelt narrative, we confront the essence of personal responsibility within the realm of love and life choices. I share tales of heartbreak, the quest for divine guidance, and the revolutionary power of self-prioritization to enhance our well-being. As we redefine self-love to reflect a more profound, divine connection, I invite you to join a burgeoning community aimed at mutual upliftment. And amidst the deep reflections, there's a spark of excitement—I tease the release of a new song that promises to resonate with our collective journey towards growth and inspiration. Stay tuned for a melody that embodies our next step in this shared path of enlightenment.

Your journey matters and your voice will always be heard here, so be sure to share your thoughts, questions, and reflections with me on my interwebs...click my link below!

Thank you for joining me for another episode as we cross this bridge together!

So much Love,

Rae

Rae's Links...

koji.to/xoloverae

HIGHLIGHTS:

(05:01 - 06:08 ) The Power of Writing Emotions

(15:11 - 17:14 ) Finding Self-Love and Support Together

CHAPTERS WITH SUMMARIES:

(00:03 ) Loving Yourself and Overcoming Negative Beliefs

This chapter, I open up about the importance of self-love and the struggle to reclaim our true selves in the face of negative external influences. I reflect on the concept that we are loved unconditionally by God and should strive to see ourselves through that same lens of unconditional positivity. Throughout our lives, others may imprint negative beliefs onto us, leading to issues like depression and low self-esteem. I share my personal journey towards self-acceptance and emphasize the power of healing, especially from childhood wounds, by being still, reflecting, and journaling to rediscover the person God intended us to be.

(05:05 ) The Healing Power of Journaling

This chapter focuses on the therapeutic power of journaling, specifically through the use of a 'dump journal' to process negative emotions and experiences. I share the concept of writing down feelings of hurt or anger as a form of release and self-expression, emphasizing the importance of expelling these negative emotions in a healthy way. I also touch on the significance of self-love and the misconception that it is selfish, reiterating that loving oneself enables us to better love and serve others. Furthermore, I stress the value of having supportive relationships where one can be vulnerable, but also offer alternatives for those who may lack such connections. Finally, I address the issue of women who share their pain online, encouraging them to reclaim their power and not remain stuck in a cycle of complaint without action, all while acknowledging the validity of their experiences.

(10:53 ) Empowering Self-Love and Personal Responsibility

This chapter emphasizes the importance of taking personal responsibility for our choices, especially when those choices stem from a lack of self-love. I stress the idea that we often give away our love to undeserving people because we haven't learned to love ourselves first. I share my own experiences with heartbreak and how turning to faith and asking for divine guidance has helped me overcome emotional pain. I highlight the necessity of self-reflection and putting oneself first to improve our lives. Additionally, I introduce the concept of moving away from the term 'self-love' towards a deeper understanding of love as an extension of God's love. Lastly, I express a desire to build a community where we can support each other in elevating our self-worth and viewing ourselves through a more loving and divine lens.

(17:46 ) Excitement for New Song Release

This chapter teases the reveal of a beloved song that I'll be sharing tomorrow, which is Wednesday. I express my excitement about the upcoming reveal and my curiosity about whether the audience will share my enthusiasm for the track. The suspense is maintained as I choose not to disclose the title just yet, ensuring anticipation builds until tomorrow's post. It's a short but sweet check-in, designed to spark interest and keep listeners engaged, and I wrap up with well-wishes, hinting at the upcoming discussion on the other side of the song reveal.

TRANSCRIPT:

00:03 - Rachel "Rae" Mindy (Host)

Yeah, I'm back, welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of Crossing Bridges with Rae. I am your host, Rae, and today I really really just wanted to come from a really raw and pure place. I hope I don't offend anyone or anything like that. I'm just going to say that in the beginning, because these types of subjects I get really passionate about and can just go off on a tangent and normally my tangents and the passion is where the gold is, is where the aha moment is, is where the value is. So let me just say that and so, yeah, so today I really want to talk about loving yourself the way that God loves you. You know, God loves us unconditionally, right, unconditionally, just as we are. He sees us as amazing and beautiful and wonderful and all of these positive things. But we do not see ourselves that way and so, therefore, we go through life like just bumping our heads, you know, and making wrong choices and going through depression and low self-esteem and no confidence at all, and are making decisions while we are feeling these, what, these different feelings and you know, I've been there. So I'm speaking from personal experience, because it took me a very, very, very long time, in my personal opinion, to truly like, accept who I am, and truly love myself. And you know a lot of those, a lot of the reasoning why it took me so long because I've always thought that I was an amazing person. I always knew that I was unique. I always knew that I was different. 

02:10

But what happens is that when people tell you early on that you're nothing, that you're, you know, whatever, whatever those things are, when people put negative thoughts into your head on a constant, constant, constant, constant basis, then you start changing, like, of course, before you started getting those negative messages from whoever it was, you were good, right, because we come to this earth without any of those things, right? It's normally people and circumstances that put those things on us and that shift us and change us in different ways, but we are here innocently and just being whoever it is that God made us be. Unfortunately, sometimes there are people around us in our lives, or whatever the case may be, that either don't like it, have never experienced it, these kind of things, or whatever, and they mold us and shape us into something different than what we already were. And what happens is that the more that you start to believe those things that are like programmed and pushed into your mind. You start living that way and you forget who God made you to be. Right, because at some point in your life even if it was when you were two years old, five years old, three years old, whatever the case may be at some point in your life you're exactly the way God made you, exactly the way God made you. And what I am imploring you to do is for you to work to get back to that point. Get back to that point. Get back to that place, even if it comes to like being playful. Right, because a lot of times, most of where we need to heal is in our childhood. So let's start thinking about those things right and trying to get back to like how we used to be you don't have to be childlike in an adult body all the time, but I promise you it will be very beneficial to you for you to think back. If you can Well, let me not say if you can you can. If you make that a goal, an accomplishment, right, you can do that. We can do whatever it is we want to do. We are capable of doing all types of things. And so, if you want to heal, if you no longer want to think of yourself as ugly or whatever those thoughts are, whatever those negative thoughts are, you can do it. All you have to do is take time, be still, and be quiet. Write in your journal. Just write it out. 

05:05

I know I mentioned in one of my videos about a dump journal. This is perfect for a dump journal, right? If someone that you love let's just use an example Someone you love doesn't treat you, right? Write that shit down. Write it down. Write exactly how