Why it's so important to say 'I love you'

You probably think it’s easy for me to say ‘I love you’ but - actually - it's a pretty big deal.

I really noticed something on a recent training - my yoga teacher says 'I love you' so easily and it feels wonderful every time she does. Because - as humans - we need to hear it, so we can feel it. We often need to hear it from others because we definitely need to start saying it more to ourselves.

I want you to hear it. So here goes: ‘I love you’. And I mean it. Even though we have probably never met.

Because as my yoga practice goes deeper - the spiritual not the physical, which is only the start - the more I realise that returning to and acknowledging our deepest love and love-ability is vital to our acceptance and ability to thrive.

I've recently had a big diagnosis, at the age of 39 - I am autistic. It feels kind of amazing - simultaneously the end and the start of a journey, that also continues unchanged. It makes a lot of sense, especially why I have dedicated so much time and energy over the last twenty years to my mental health, wellbeing, self-care and deepening my understanding of the human psyche and spirit. Also, why I have found such solace and love in the physical practice of yoga and meditation.

I guess what I'm trying to say in this roundabout way is I've spent 39 years trying to accept myself, working towards prioritising my needs, exploring ways to support my overwhelmed nervous system without realising WHY I actually needed to. I guess that’s what makes me such a champion of the importance of accepting everyone as they are - because everyone deserves that.

When you work with me, I’m not going to walk in to our meeting, Zoom call or your school and start by telling you ‘I love you’ - writing it is one thing but face-to-face, I’m not there yet! Maybe one day… But I do want you to know - that’s the place where my work comes from and that’s why it’s a little bit more accepting, inclusive and supportive of everyone.