The mantra for a Happy life is to love yourself first.
Since I work with people facing relationship issues, I talk and write about relationships. There are different types of relationships in our lives. However, I start with one of the less explored relationships in our lives: self-love.
The word self-love is self-explanatory.
Self-love is the art of appreciating oneself in such a way that it supports our physical, psychological, and spiritual growth. Self-love means having a high regard for our well-being and happiness. Self-love means caring for your needs and not sacrificing your well-being to please others. It involves treating oneself with kindness, compassion, and respect, just as you treat a loved one or a close friend. Self-love is the foundation for healthy relationships, personal recognition, and overall mental and emotional well-being. Self-love is a life-long journey. To achieve this beautiful relationship with ourselves, we must keep working on a few things regularly.
How do I practise self-love?
1. Self-Acceptance: Embrace yourself and accept yourself as you are. Accept your strengths, weaknesses, flaws, and imperfections. Appreciate that you are worthy of love and respect simply because you exist.
2. Self-value: Take care of yourself and honour your needs and feelings. Be kind to yourself when you are feeling down or overwhelmed.
3. Self-Care: Respect your physical, emotional, and mental well-being by engaging in activities that nurture and support you. It can include ensuring we eat well, exercise, get adequate sleep, and do things that make us feel good. Engage in hobbies and activities you enjoy.
4. Set boundaries: You must set boundaries. Establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries is an act of self-love. Learn to say no when necessary and set limits to protect your time, energy, and emotional well-being.
5. Self-empathy and compassion: Be empathetic and compassionate towards yourself. Practise self-forgiveness by letting go of past mistakes and releasing yourself from guilt and shame. Treat yourself with kindness and understanding. Embrace your imperfections and failures as opportunities for growth rather than sources of self-doubt.
6. Positive Self-Talk: Be conscious of the effects of critical self-talk, judgement, and comparison. Pay attention to your internal dialogue and strive to replace self-criticism with self-compassion. Be mindful of negative thoughts, reframe and challenge negative self-talk and replace it with positive affirmations.
7. Self-appreciation: Celebrate your successes and achievements and reward yourself. Celebrate your accolades, no matter how small.
Watch this inspiring video on self-love.
(VIDEO COURTESY--YOUTUBE)
Self-love is essential for a healthy and fulfilling life. By embracing self-love, we can lead happier, healthier lives and enjoy more fulfilling relationships. remember you are worth more than you think. Celebrate yourself.
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