It is easy to talk about loving ourselves, but, what does that actually look like? Is it in the choices we make? Is it in the clothes we wear or the friends we keep? It is all of the above actually. Loving ourselves is as much a feeling as it is an action. The healthy actions and choices we make for ourselves will naturally lead to us feeling better emotionally. While self-love looks different for all of us, there are a few ways I have been learning to love myself more and I have shared them below. Loving ourselves is a long and hard journey, but, if we keep pushing through, it will be one of the most rewarding journeys of our lives.
1. Stand up for Yourself
At work, with your family, and against the negative voices in your head. You deserve to be heard. You are a human being. You are not lesser than anyone. If you are being treated with unkindness and disrespect then it is okay to stand up to your bully.
2. Stop the Negative Talk in Your Head
What you say is what you believe, and what you believe about yourself becomes who you are. If you would not say it to your best friend or someone else you love, then why would you say it to yourself? You should be kindest to yourself. After all, you are the one who goes to work for you, who gets yourself to the gym for you, who brushes your teeth for you, who pays your bills for you, and who feels what only your heart can feel for you. So be kind to the one who actually takes care of you.
3. Move Your Body
Our body is amazing! Muscles, cells, fat, and bones, they all have a purpose, to move and be moved! Exercise has been proven to actually help our mental health. It releases our de-stressor hormones into our brain and naturally helps heal our mind without us having to do mental work. We just have to move. 🙂
4. Take Time to Play
What do you like to do? Nowadays we sit at home watching TV in our free time or looking at social media- but do you remember the days as a child when there was time to play and all we wanted was more time? You are the adult now and can play whenever you want. So give yourself time to enjoy the things in life that only you do.
5. Say I Love You More, to Yourself
Whoever said talking to yourself is crazy did not know what they were talking about. You are a person, right? So if you talk to other people why would you ignore yourself? Next time you feel alone or overwhelmed and do not know who to reach out to, talk to yourself first and tell yourself that you are here for you, you believe in you, you will be okay, and that no matter what happens you will always love you.
6. Surround Yourself With Honest, Accepting, Kind and Authentic People
Who you are with, you will be influenced by. Choosing your friends wisely is important so you can be who you want to be. Be kind, humble, and respectful of others, and surround yourself with people who will encourage these things too.
7. Don’t Believe in Something Unless You Want To
Limiting and close-minded beliefs can harm us more than we might realize. It can stop our soul from experiencing all it was meant to. Our soul needs to have room to discover, question, and become an authentic, honest version of ourselves. Be brave enough to say no to what does not feel right to you so you can find your freedom outside the walls of fear and manipulation.
8. Stop Settling for Less Than You Deserve
Being you is amazing! Being you by yourself (single) is a state of completion. We need connection, but that does not mean only a romantic connection. Mostly, we need friendship. We need people who take the time to know us, understand us, and love us. At the end of the day, your significant other should be the person, besides yourself, who is the kindest, and most thoughtful of you. So stop settling for anyone less.
