How Do I Love Myself?

What is Self-love and how do we do it? Self-love is an appreciation of oneself that allows us to support our physical, mental, spiritual and relational growth. Self-love involves prioritizing our own needs and not settling for less than we deserve. 

Self-love is a complicated concept we hear so much about but never know how to do it. Giving yourself appreciation and positive regard for ourselves is an important aspect of confidence. Self-love has a positive impact on our relationships, mental health and self-concept. Taking time for ourselves and trusting our instincts can go a long way on our self-love journeys. 

Surrounding ourselves with people who value and respect us is important for our relational health. This will encourage allow us to treat ourselves with more kindness and grace. If we want to examine the way we treat ourselves - look at the people around us. 

Forgiving ourselves when we make mistakes, and giving ourselves grace when we are going through a difficult time are very important. So what are some tangible steps we can take to find ways to love ourselves?

Engage in Self-Care Practices

• Taking a bath

• Journaling

• Getting a massage

• Buying ourselves gifts

Physical Self-Care

• Working out 

• Listening to our bodies 

• Eating healthy 

• Resting when we are sick or tired

Taking Time for Ourselves

• Focusing on developing our hobbies and interests 

• Taking time off of work or letting ourselves go on a vacation 

• Spending time with people who fill our cups 

Mental Self-Care

• Engaging in positive self talk and affirmations

• Gratitude practices

• Spending time focusing on our mental health - like talking to a therapist 

• Engage in mindfulness practices

Give yourself grace 

• Prioritizing ourselves 

• Setting and respecting our boundaries 

• Being compassionate with ourselves

• Forgiving ourselves for past experiences

• Changing the way we speak to ourselves after we make a mistake

Our busy work schedules and family dynamics sometimes makes it hard to focus on ourselves. Going to bed early, putting an ‘out of office’ message on your email and turning off our phones can all contribute to personal boundaries that allow us to prioritize ourselves.

Spending time appreciating ourselves, forgiving ourselves and thinking about our worth all contribute to self-love. Prioritizing our needs and setting healthy boundaries can improve our overall well-being. 

You are worthy. You are loved. You are worthy of love and loving yourself. Self-love is an ongoing process and it is okay to not feel like you love yourself daily. Work towards your own goals. 

If you are interested in exploring your self-love journey, feel free to schedule a free 15 minute consultation call with any of our therapists.