Actress Melissa Ricks can attest that nothing is harder than learning to love yourself. After the single mom opened up about her struggles, she shares with us that she is finally on the path to accepting herself after a long time of self-doubt.
It was in September 2018 at YouTube NextUp camp when Melissa revealed she was able to let go of many anxieties that had been haunting her since giving birth to her daughter, Kiera, four years ago.“Yes, I’m a single mom. Yes, I gained a lot of weight. Yes, I’m not active in showbiz anymore, yes, I have made mistakes, and yes, I’m still battling my demons but that doesn’t define me,” she had written. “Not being okay is okay.”
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Speaking with SmartParenting.com.ph, Melissa shares that her "celebrity status" has made her a target of mom shaming. Many judged her for being a single mom and for failing to lose her pregnancy weight, and the bashing and criticism took an emotional toll. It had taken her some time to realize that what other people thought of her didn’t matter, and what truly mattered was her daughter.
Melissa says that self-love is a long process — there are times when she still finds it hard to forget all the cruel words thrown at her — but choosing to love yourself and finding ways to be happy is something all moms need to learn.
“It’s not selfish to take care of yourself because you have to love yourself in order for you to love others,” she says.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWThis 2019, Melissa says she is working on a better version of herself. Watch the video below to see how the single mom is achieving it:
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