The happiness of every person, man or woman, starts with self-love. It is simply impossible to find inner peace and happiness if you don’t learn to love yourself first. Self-worth, self-esteem, and self-confidence – all those can only be built upon a firm foundation of love, care, and respect for yourself. It doesn’t matter if your friends, family, and partner love you and treat you nicely because you will still end up feeling down if you don’t fall in love with yourself first and foremost. It’s about accepting who you are with all your passions, strengths, weaknesses, talents, mistakes, and so much more. Let’s take a journey into ourselves and explore the 6 powerful ways to practice self-love.
Have some ‘me time’ every day
Whether you’re a busy mom, a business woman, a sports lady, or all of the above, it’s important to have some ‘me time’ every day. This is the time you spend alone with yourself and tune into your feelings, desires, listen to the world around you, and get ready to start the day. It’s good to have at least 15 minutes in the morning all to yourself to do meditation or some other practice of mindfulness before the rest of the world wakes up. This is the time you find your balance and get ready to face whatever is coming your way. You can do anything – read a book, drink a cup of coffee, do yoga, go for a run, or simply look out the window. This is the time to connect with your inner self and the peace that is always inside you no matter what’s happening.
Accept what you feel
Accepting yourself is hard for most of us as no one really teaches it neither to kids, nor adults. As children we learn that our parents’ acceptance matters the most, then it broadens to school mates, teachers, fellow students, co-workers, and society in general. But what about accepting yourself for who you truly are? That is the most important thing in the world. It’s easier to do this when you feel nice and happy – you simply accept that this is who you are and what you feel at the moment. It’s so natural! But when you’re feeling down, angry, or hurt, you just want to make it go away, you don’t live through it, you’d rather shift your focus on watching a TV show, grabbing a drink, or any other distraction. The thing is, you should be present in these states as well. Live through them, don’t supress them, and they will go away because nothing is constant, even pain. Otherwise suppressed emotions can turn into bigger issues and even lead to health problems.
Love your body
Your body is the precious vessel of your mind, soul, and spirit that allows you to live your life to the fullest. It lets you experience emotions, communicate with people, be creative, and build meaningful relationships. This body is the first thing we get to know when we are born as we learn to perceive the surroundings using our senses. Learn to accept and love this beautiful body because your life wouldn’t be possible without it. Take time to nourish it with healthy food, build a suitable diet for yourself, incorporate some exercises to make it healthier, and try doing yoga or qigong to re-connect with your body on all levels. Your body has its own rhythm and needs. It may feel tired when you want to stay up late and it may need to go outside for a walk when you prefer to stay in to watch a TV show. Learn to listen to your body and as you make it happier, your mood and your whole life rhythm will change for the better, too.
Get out of toxic relationships
You may think that you love yourself fully, but that won’t be true until you get out of all toxic relationships in your life. Sit down and make a list of all the people that have a habit of humiliating you, treating you with disrespect, and belittling you in any other way. It doesn’t matter if it’s your parents, partner, or a dearest friend. Be truthful with yourself and look at them for what they truly are. Once you realize there are people in your life that make you miserable, it’s time to make changes. If you can’t let them go (yet) think about defining your boundaries with them. Don’t be afraid to speak up when you get hurt by what they do or say. A simple ‘this is not okay for me’ goes a long way as some people may simply not understand the impact they have on others.
Tidy up
More often than not our surroundings reflect what is inside – our mood, emotions, and passions in life. And vice versa – the things we surround ourselves with have an impact on our psyche, mood, and inspiration. This is why it is so important to declutter the space around you. Start with your room and closet – that is the place where most of the old and useless things dwell. Separate the things you like and want to wear from the ones that are old or you simply don’t feel connected to. You can always give them away or even sell if you feel like it. Decluttering your closet will give space for new things to come into your life, including new relationships, hobbies, and positive events. Tidy up your whole house as this has a direct impact on your feeling of safety, happiness, and health.
Do something you love
When you love yourself you naturally want to do the things that bring you joy and happiness. And vice-versa, if you do the things you love, you also accumulate love for yourself as you build self-esteem and self-confidence that make you a happier human being. You don’t have to become a pro or an expert to be happy about what you do – it’s the process that matters the most! If you like running and it makes you feel better – then make a habit of it and enjoy it fully. If you love painting or drawing – then do it whenever you have free time and see how it makes you feel. Doing something not for others and not because it’s prestigious or brings money, but because it simply makes you happy is a sure-proof way to practice self-love.