What is self-love?
Self-love is an important concept that has been gaining more attention in recent years. It is a way of caring for yourself, showing kindness and respect to yourself, and nurturing your growth and wellbeing. Self-love involves not only how you treat yourself, but also the thoughts and feelings you have about yourself. It is about accepting who you are, flaws and all, and finding ways to be kind to yourself even when things don’t go as planned.
When it comes to self-love, it’s important to remember that it doesn’t mean being perfect or never making mistakes. Instead, it means understanding that mistakes are part of life and learning from them instead of beating yourself up over them. It also means taking time for yourself to do things that bring you joy and make you feel good about who you are. Self-love can help us build resilience in difficult times by reminding us of our worthiness and helping us stay connected with ourselves even when life gets tough.
Why is self-love important?
Self-love is an important concept that many people struggle to understand and practice. It is a state of appreciation for oneself that grows from actions that support our physical, psychological and spiritual growth. Self-love means having a high regard for your own well-being and happiness, taking care of your own needs without sacrificing them to please others, and not settling for less than you deserve.
“I don't trust people who don't love themselves and tell me, 'I love you.' ... There is an African saying which is: Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt.”― Maya Angelou
It is important to recognize the importance of self-love in order to lead a healthy life. When we practice self-love, we are able to take better care of ourselves by setting boundaries with others, making time for ourselves, and engaging in activities that bring us joy. We can also learn how to be more compassionate towards ourselves when we make mistakes or experience difficult emotions. By practicing self-love, we can build healthier relationships with ourselves and others as well as foster greater emotional resilience.
Why do we need self-love?
Self-love is an essential part of being a healthy and happy person. Without it, we can become overly critical of ourselves, neglect our own needs and feelings, and make decisions that are not in our best interest. Self-love allows us to be assertive, set boundaries, practice self-care, pursue our interests and goals, and feel proud of who we are.
“Even when it seems that there is no one else, always remember there’s one person who never ceased to love you – yourself,” - Sanhita Baruah
When we love ourselves, we can create healthier relationships with others. We can be more confident in expressing our needs and opinions without fear of judgement or rejection. We can take care of ourselves by engaging in activities that bring us joy and fulfillment. We can also have the courage to pursue our dreams without worrying about what other people think or say about us. Loving ourselves gives us the strength to overcome obstacles and challenges that come our way. It helps us build resilience so that we can bounce back from difficult times with greater ease. Ultimately, self-love is the key to living a life full of purpose and meaning.
What self-love isn't
Self-love is an important part of living a healthy and fulfilling life, but for many people who aren't used to loving themselves, it feels really uncomfortable. Many people say that they are mostly afraid of looking selfish, appearing full of themselves, or narcissistic.
However, these are two different things because self-love isn’t about showing off how great you are; it’s about recognizing your own worth and value as a person. It’s about accepting yourself with all your flaws and mistakes, and being kind to yourself even when you make mistakes. Self-love is not selfish or narcissistic; it’s simply the act of treating yourself with kindness, respect, and understanding. It's about recognizing your own worth and value as individuals.
Why self-love is important for our emotional resilience
When it comes to managing stress and developing resilience, self-love is key. When we feel good about ourselves, it’s easier for us to tackle the challenges that life throws our way. Self-love helps us to look at difficult situations as temporary setbacks or even opportunities for growth, rather than feeling overwhelmed by them. It also helps us to be more compassionate with ourselves when things don’t go as planned, which can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
“To love yourself right now, just as you are, is to give yourself heaven. Don’t wait until you die. If you wait, you die now. If you love, you live now,” Alan Cohen
Negative thoughts and self-critical attitudes can compound stress, so it’s important to practice self-compassion and focus on the positive aspects of yourself. This could include taking time out for yourself each day to do something you enjoy or simply taking a few moments to appreciate your own strengths and accomplishments. Taking care of your mental health in this way will help you build up your resilience and cope better with stressful situations in the future.
Tips on How to love yourself more starting today
Self-love is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, but it can be difficult to cultivate. It requires dedication and effort to make sure that you are taking care of yourself in the best way possible. Fortunately, there are some simple tips that can help you start showing yourself some love.
1. Acknowledge your feelings: It’s important to recognize and accept all of your emotions, even the negative ones.
2. Practice self-care: Take time out for yourself each day to do something that brings you joy or relaxation.
3. Celebrate your successes: Don’t be afraid to give yourself credit for your accomplishments and take pride in them.
4. Speak kindly to yourself: Be mindful of the words you use when talking to yourself and try to be as kind and understanding as possible.
5. Forgive yourself: We all make mistakes, so it’s important to forgive yourself and move on from them.
6. Surround yourself with positive people: Spend time with people who lift you up and make you feel good about yourself.
7. Set realistic goals: Make sure that your goals are achievable and don’t set yourself up for failure.
8. Take time to reflect: Reflect on the progress you have made and appreciate how far you have come.
9. Practice gratitude: Focus on the things that you are grateful for in your life, no matter how small they may be.
10. Treat yourself: Treat yourself to something special every once in a while, whether it’s a massage, a new outfit, or a night out with friends. This will help you to feel appreciated and valued.
Conclusion
In conclusion, self-love is essential for our emotional resilience and overall wellbeing. It helps us to accept ourselves with all our flaws and mistakes, build up our resilience, and cope better with stressful situations. Practicing self-care, speaking kindly to yourself, and surrounding yourself with positive people are all great ways to start building a strong foundation of self-love. The point is, whether it's relationship to our jobs, our colleagues, our partners, no matter what it is, it's important to love ourselves first because the relationship we have to ourselves sets the standards for all other ones..
“If you have the ability to love, love yourself first.” -- Charles Burkowski
Need a little more self-love in your life? Join my JANUARY SELF-LOVE Challenge in my Facebook group here! :) Every day, we're doing one small activity as a little reminder to love ourselves more!
ABOUT ME:
ANDREA HUNT - Online Transformational Life Coach & EFT Tapping Practitioner based in Munich, Germany
I'm an accredited transformational life coach from Animas Centre for Coaching UK and a member of the International Coaching Federation. I'm also a Level 2 practitioner in EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique) and a member of AEFTP (Association of Emotional Freedom Technique Professionals).
If you're not sure where to start transforming your life, you can download my free ebook on How to Start Your Personal Growth Journey.
Are you ready to change your life, let go of old beliefs, empower yourself for a mindset shift to move forward? Mark Batterson says: You're always one decision away from a totally different life.
If you're interested in booking a free 15 minute discovery call for transformational life coaching, EFT Tapping or checking out my services page click here.
Header image: Darius Bashar
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