Gala Darling: “radical self love…it’s a soul salve”
Continuing with the One Thing series… From time to time I come across humans who just astound me with their whimsy. They do something a bit you’re-not-meant-to-do-that. I’ve noticed there’s usually One Thing that prompted them, or motivates them, or keeps them happy and therefore whimsical. I’m always busting to tap them on the shoulder and ask, “What’s your One Thing”.
Gala Darling: my one thing is ‘radical self love’
I first met Gala when I was editing Cosmo. I’d seen her blog and loved her writing style and gave her a column in the mag. She then moved to New York, I moved on, but we’ve stayed in touch. She now earns an income from her blog and the related projects she’s involved in via her following. She’s a very special, quirky!! person. Who has remained true to her soul. And the world has come to her. When she shares a tip for how she keeps it real, you want to listen up!
Sarah: So, what’s your One Thing?
Gala: Radical self love. It’s my mission, my message, my raison d’être.
Sarah: The One Thing that explains your One Thing?
Gala: It’s the most important part of the work that I do. I write & speak on a slew of topics, from fashion to entrepreneurship, & radical self love is the always the one which receives the loudest, most ecstatic response!
Really, truly loving yourself is radical, simply because it’s the opposite to what most people are concerned with! You only have to look around to realise that most people are living desperately boring & deeply dissatisfying lives. When you love yourself, you won’t accept anything less than what you really desire. It opens you up to opportunities you could never dream of. It completely transforms your entire existence.
Sarah: Your One Trick that you do that never fails to make your life matter more?
Gala: Engaging in a state of gratitude as often as possible, & further to that, documenting it. I do this on my site, weekly — it’s a feature called Things I Love Thursday — but I also do it whenever I need a boost. If I’m standing in a queue at the supermarket & getting frustrated at the person in front of me, or my feet hurt, or whatever, I dare myself to come up with ten things I’m really happy about. It sounds so Julie Andrews & simplistic that you’d think there’s no way it could possibly work, & yet, it does. Every time. It has improved my life so much!
Sarah: The One Thing you do to care for your creative soul?
Gala: Travel. It is 100% necessary to my creativity & zest for life! In fact, I’m writing this from a plane bound for Los Angeles! If you ask me, there’s nothing better than getting out of your comfort zone, inhaling some new smells, & walking down unfamiliar streets. It is true soul salve. Travel doesn’t have to be expensive or overly-orchestrated, either. Getting on your bike & investigating a new neighbourhood can be just as invigorating as a trip to Miami! It’s all in the attitude.
Sarah: The One Thing you’d like to share
Gala: Russell Simmons — co-founder of Def Jam, transcendental meditator & yoga practitioner — wrote this amazing book on business called Do You!, which is one of my favourites. It’s really smart & true.
Follow Gala’s whimsical explorations here.
Her tumblr here.
And her radical self love book here.
Hey Sarah
I like this very much! But the two links at the bottom of the page don’t seem to be working.
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June 9th, 2011 at 10:50 am
Hi jojo (great name!)
I’ve fixed up the links – thanks for the heads up.
jo x
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Lovely.
You wrote about Gala Darling a while ago Sarah and on the strength of your recommendation, I have been reading her blog ever since! And have also bought some of her ebook chapters, they are awesome. Cannot recommend highly enough. She is like that cute bubbly friend you like to be around because she makes your own life more joyful.
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June 9th, 2011 at 12:18 pm
well put!
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She is adorable! Her message rings so true to me. I’ve recently realised that self love is such an most important thing. I’ve spent the last year job hunting and have been rejected about 1000 times. I was offered a couple of jobs that I could have easily accepted, but they weren’t what I really wanted to do. I think I valued myself too much to give up on finding my ultimate career (I’m 23 and a few of my friends have done this aleady). Anyway, long story short I just got my dream job! So exciting and such a lesson for me.
I remember reading somewhere a while back to treat yourself how you would treat a girlfriend. For example, if a girlfriend came to you upset saying she’s fat/ugly/stupid, you’d be kind to her and try and reinforce how amazing she is! So do that to yourself as well! It actually works!
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Two points which are so very true.
You can’t love someone else until you learn to love yourself – unconditionally. It makes you a better person and a better partner.
Travel is the best way to open your mind – works better than any self help book I’ve ever read.
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[...] +Sarah Wilson interviews Gala Darling on radical self love. These ladies are two of my favourite writers/life enthusiasts. [...]
I absolutely adore Gala! I think she’s the cure for depression =] She has such an amazing outlook on life, definitely something I try to emulate. She’s also inspired me to change my name (still choosing it!) I just wish she’d hurry up and publish her book already!
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Wow I think you guys are on to something here and to take it up a notch I suugest Loving your self as part of something bigger than just you yourself i.e. Nature,the Universe,the Divine and then Love your Self as a Positive force for those !
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I actually discovered Gala Darling in that first column for Cosmopolitan and became infatuated with her blog for years afterwards. I started reading it months before I’d started university, and am still reading it months after I’ve finished! Her writing is incredibly inspiring, positive and wonderful! I check her site, your site alongside another beautiful blog, yesandyes.org before I check on my own Facebook and emails. I know I’m always guaranteed an informative and lovely start to my day
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Wowza, problem solved like it never hapneped.
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[...] series. You can catch up on some previous ‘the one thing’ interviews here and here. Today, I’m talking with psychic Anna [...]
[...] +Sarah Wilson interviews Gala Darling on radical self love. These ladies are two of my favourite writers/life enthusiasts. [...]