Learning to love yourself is one of the most powerful things you can do in life. On first instance, it may sound like an act of self indulgence and narcissism, however it’s something completely the opposite! When you start to love yourself, not only will your self esteem grow, but your relationships, your career and your health will flourish. But, how do you actually start learning to love yourself more? Let’s find out:
Nurture your body
If you’re a beginner when it comes to loving yourself, start with something simple, like being mindful of what you put into your body. Blitz up a green smoothie for breakfast, opt for dark chocolate as a sweet snack and cook yourself a nutritious meal from scratch. Your diet is important in terms of reflecting how you love yourself, so wholesome eating habits will lay strong foundations to journey of self love.
Start a journal
To practice self love on the regular, keeping a gratitude journal is a key tool in allowing us to develop an optimistic attitude to become more positive and happy in our lives. Research suggests that there are several benefits to gratitude practice, such as improved sleep and physical health as well as reduced fatigue, greater resiliency and patience alongside lower levels of cellular inflammation. So, grab a notebook and list five things you are grateful for at the end of each day to shift yourself into a loving mindset.
Treat yourself
An essential part of learning to love yourself is spending quality time alone doing something meaningful. This helps with redirecting your attention to yourself rather than giving it to others. So, why not book a solo spa day to wind down and relax. Maybe you’ve been meaning to visit a cute cafe you’ve had your eye one – well now’s your chance to grab a well deserved cup of coffee and delicious slice of cake!
Explore your feelings
You may feel like there’s an obstacle in your journey to self love; this may include unresolved feelings, limiting beliefs and thoughts or relevant events which you have not overcome. It’s important to address these concerns thoroughly, so investing in deeper rooted therapies from a reputable and confidential mental health service, such as The Awareness Centre, is vital in order to acquire the support you need to understand and manage your issues.
Do what you love
You’ve probably heard this a million times, but it doesn’t necessarily have to mean that you quit your job and go to live off grid. Think about something which interests you and makes you feel fully alive. A few examples are pottery, cooking or even gardening. Take some time out to look at whether there are any local groups which offer these activities and sign up, otherwise you can opt to enrol on an online course or simply use the internet for free resources on how to get started!
Whilst this may seem like a basic list of things to take part in to start your journey to self love, these activities are, in fact, easier said than done, especially if you haven’t made your self a priority in the past. So, start with something small and progress slowly – you’ll be sure to feel a difference right away!
Everyone needs coffee and cakes. Great, optimistic piece!
Great tips thank you!
I’ve been doing all these things recently. Such good tips. Getting back to journaling and eating healthy are newer for me, so we’ll see how it goes.
I love these ideas! Self love is so important these days; you can’t love anyone else before you love yourself