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"You're fine just the way you are."
It is important to acknowledge that"
What does Sophia think about "self-love"?
Chiyono: Indeed, on the other hand, there may be many people who have a complex identity that they cannot use as an excuse for being a foreigner or half-Japanese, and feel that "I should be like this because I'm Japanese." Of course, it's not just nationality, but also because I'm a woman, a mother, or because I'm xx... So, what does Sophia think self-love is?
Sofia: I think the first thing is to love and accept yourself as you are. It may be very difficult, but you can make an effort to become that way, or change your way of thinking little by little so that you can become that way. I think that in itself is self-love. The second thing is to forgive yourself. Many people have a hard time forgiving themselves for mistakes or failures that hurt someone in the past, and they feel guilty. If you feel guilty, it's hard to forgive yourself. If you can't forgive, it's hard to love yourself. But there's no such thing as a perfect person in the first place. Everyone makes mistakes. It's important to acknowledge that and forgive yourself.
Chiyono: Accepting things as they are and loving them, letting go of past guilt and forgiving yourself. I see, that's right. Anything else?
Sofia: It's also important to take care of both your body and mind in a balanced way. Find what makes you feel good both physically and mentally, including the exercise, food, and clothing you choose, and continue doing it.
Chiyono: When it comes to comfort, everyone has different priorities. For example, for me, I feel excited when my skin is in good condition or when I'm wearing my favorite lingerie, so those are my priorities. But for Sophia and others, it might be completely different. That's why you need to take the time and energy to listen carefully to yourself and what you want and what you're lacking. And then, it's important to make up for the elements that you're currently lacking.
Sofia: That's true. However, in reality, we are all so busy with our daily schedules that we tend to put off listening to our inner voice. Some people have so little time that they barely have time to sleep. That's why I think it's important to make time for yourself first.
Chiyono: Everyone only has 24 hours in a day, so time management is a very important life skill. The first step may be to take the time to listen to yourself and take care of yourself at a comfortable pace, whether that be daily, weekly, or monthly.
Sofia: Many of my clients tend to overcommit on a daily basis. For example, they can't say no when someone asks them to do something. People like that first need to face why they can't say NO. Is it because they're afraid of hurting the other person, or because they're afraid that they won't get something if they don't go? I think it will be easier to secure your own time if you think about what to say the next time you're invited.
Chiyono: It's true that if you push yourself too hard, even cutting into your own time, out of fear that turning down an invitation will make you feel like you've lost out or that you'll never be invited again, it can throw off your balance.
Sofia: That's why you need to remember that your own time is important to you. If you don't have time for yourself, you'll get irritated and take it out on the people you like, and you won't be able to perform at your best. It's important to understand that you can't be your best self unless you make it a priority and secure this time.
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What is Self-Love?
Love, accept and forgive yourself as you are"
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There is light at the end of facing the causes of your complexes
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Chiyono: Some of these may be traditional restrictions or assumptions, such as ideas about chastity, that have been created outside of personal experience.
Sofia: I think many people are afraid that if they suddenly wear sexy lingerie that is different from usual, their partner might not love them or accept them. But if he really loves you, he will love you no matter what you wear, so I want you to realize that this is not the case. What suggestions do you have for such people?
Chiyono: When I say sensual design, I don't just mean the appearance, I also think about the texture and the change in feeling when wearing it. So, the design is orthodox, but I make it so that you can feel the sensuality when the high-quality silk material touches your skin, or if it's a negligee, you can feel the silk fibers all over your body when you walk, and you can feel feminine through the touch. Or the feeling of wearing your favorite color, even if you can't wear it as an outerwear. I listen in detail to the feel of the skin and how you want to look when you look in the mirror, and try to incorporate that into the design as much as possible.
Sofia: Creating lingerie for yourself with Chiyono Anne may be a kind of healing process. I think the brand philosophy has the message that every body is beautiful, every body is worthy of wearing beautiful lingerie, and body shape doesn't matter. This is something that Chiyono herself can say because she has seen the bodies of thousands of women, so it's really convincing.
Chiyono: Indeed, as a brand, we have always been saying that we make lingerie for ourselves, rather than for our partners, and many people actually come to make lingerie as a reward for themselves or to increase their motivation. For such people, by showing their true selves to others (me) and honestly telling them what they like and dislike in an open environment (the atelier), they may realize that the things they felt insecure about are not actually something to be ashamed of. I believe that by looking at the finished lingerie, they can remember the feelings and images they had imagined when wearing it before making it, and get a little closer to the person they want to be, which can lead to self-love.
Sofia's Hint:
Quick Training to Start Self-Love
Daily Affirmations
Chiyono: Finally, could you tell us some tips and methods for easily trying to reset your mind in your daily life?
Sofia: Affirmations are something you can do easily, anytime and anywhere. In other words, positive words. For example, say positive words like "I will take better care of myself" or "I will start to love my body" out loud many times a day. There is always a lot of information flowing through our heads, and the more negative people are, the more negative words they hear. To resist this, repeating positive words to yourself will change your thought process. This has actually been scientifically verified. There are many affirmation videos on YouTube, so I recommend listening to them while commuting. Are you doing anything, Chiyono?
Chiyono: I don't know if I can call it affirmation, but before I go to sleep, I try to tell my partner what happened today and what I'm thinking, as if I'm writing a diary. Even if I make a small mistake, I'll do this next time, or I'll change like this from tomorrow. I also write things down on paper. Because of my job, I often absorb things visually, so I feel like putting things in writing makes it easier to accept them.
Sofia: I think writing it down on paper is a great idea. I also recommend sticking the paper you wrote on somewhere you can see it, or taking a photo of it and setting it as your smartphone wallpaper. Different people find different ways to accept it, so it's best to do it in a way that suits you.
Chiyono: Are there any golden words that you would recommend to people who are new to affirmations?
Sofia: The standard affirmation is "I love and accept myself," but some people reject it, saying, "No, I don't love myself or accept myself." In that case, try arranging it into words like, "I am starting to love myself" or "I am starting the process of loving myself," whatever words resonate with you. Affirmations are concepts, not set words, so feel free to start with words that resonate with you.
Chiyono: It's important to continue using words that are comfortable to you. Can you tell us some tips on how to make it a habit?
Sofia: I do it as soon as I wake up in the morning, so I can start my day with a good feeling. However, everyone has their ups and downs, such as when someone calls me and I feel down, or when the weather is bad and I'm tired, so I set my smartphone alarm for lunch and evening and repeat the affirmation words I've decided. I call it the "joy alarm," and when the alarm goes off, I read out five words three times each. It doesn't have to be out loud, and it shouldn't take more than a minute. If you're conscious of smiling at that time, your mood will stabilize. Just smiling releases happy hormones, so I recommend doing it three times a day as a habit.
Chiyono: It's probably similar to a supplement. It doesn't have an immediate effect, but it gradually permeates all of your cells and before you know it, you start thinking that way.
Sofia: When I first saw the affirmation "I love and accept myself," I thought, "What is this? Isn't this stupid? There's no way I can change just by saying something like this." At the time, I really rejected it, but I still wanted to change, so I tried it.
Chiyono: It's amazing how even people who thought like that can change so much. I've seen it on Sophia's Instagram, but I realized I wasn't doing it for myself. When I'm busy, I tend to put it off, but it doesn't take much time, so I thought I'd try to make it a habit starting tomorrow.
Sofia: I think that there is only one person who will always be with you in your life, and that person is yourself. Because you are the only person you will be with for the rest of your life, I want everyone to improve their relationship with themselves, cherish themselves, and create a happy life.
