What is self love?
Before one can practice, one must understand what they mean.
Self-love is a state of self-esteem that results from behaviors that support our physical, mental and spiritual growth. Self-love means placing a high value on your own well-being and happiness. Self-love means taking care of your own needs instead of sacrificing your happiness to please others. Self love means not being satisfied with what you deserve.
Self-love means something different to everyone because we all have many different ways of taking care of ourselves. Knowing what self-esteem looks like for you personally is an important part of mental health.
What does self-love mean to you?
At first this might mean:
- Talking kindly about yourself
- Putting yourself first
- Freeing yourself from self-condemnation
- Believing in yourself
- Being true to yourself
- Being kind to yourself
- Setting healthy boundaries
- Forgiving or be kind to yourself re inauthentic
For many people, self-love is just another word for self-care. Self-care often includes going back to basics and
- Listening to our bodies,
- Taking breaks from work and moving/stretching.
- Turn off the phone, connect with yourself or others, or do something creative.
- Eat healthy, but sometimes enjoy your favorite food.
Self-love means accepting yourself as you are. It means accepting your feelings and prioritizing your physical, emotional and mental health.
How and Why to Practice Self-Love
Now we know that self-love motivates you to make healthy choices in life. When you value yourself highly, you are more likely to choose things that enhance your happiness and serve you well. These things can take the form of healthy eating, exercising, or having healthy relationships.
Ways to practice self-love include:
Be mindful.
People with high self-esteem tend to know what they think, feel and want.
Actions based on needs, not desires.
By focusing on what you need, you distract yourself from the automatic behavior patterns that get you into trouble, delve into the past, and destroy your confidence.
Take care
You will love yourself more if you take better care of your basic needs. People with high self-esteem are nourished daily through healthy activities, such as healthy eating, exercise, good sleep, close relationships, and healthy social interactions.
Make room for healthy habits
Really start taking care of yourself and reflect that in what you eat, how you exercise and what you spend your time on. Do things not because you “do” or because you “have to”, but because you care.
Finally, the practice of self-love begins with being kind, patient, kind, and compassionate to yourself, as you would a loved one.
#SelfLove #SelfCare #PersonalGrowth #Mindfulness #SelfAcceptance #Happiness #PositiveThinking #SelfEsteem #SelfCompassion #InnerPeace
