Introduction
We live in a society that frequently highlights the importance of seeking approval from others. We’ve tended to ask for validation from other people on almost everything. In this whole process somewhere we have forgotten ourselves. We have forgotten the importance of liking what we do, doing what we like, and loving who we are in short self-love
We all need to understand, that self-love is not a luxury it’s a necessity. Discovering the ability to appreciate yourself is a life-changing process. Self-love does not mean being self-centered or excessively focusing on yourself. Instead, it’s about accepting yourself the way you are, admiring yourself and having empathy towards yourself.
In this blog, we will discuss some practical ways to fall in love with yourself and show gratitude towards yourself. We will discuss how you can foster a constructive connection with the individual who holds the greatest importance in your life: You
Self-love Rule No. 1: Practicing Self-Compassion:
We all are extremely hard on ourselves. If anything goes wrong in our personal and professional life, we immediately start blaming ourselves, Hating our decisions and questioning whether I have ever made the right decision. So the first step towards self-love journey can be being kind towards yourself, Showing empathy towards yourself.
Rather than subjecting yourself to harsh self-criticism, and questioning everything, learn to forgive yourself. Extend self-compassion and respond to your difficulties with understanding and forgiveness. Treat yourself as you would treat a cherished friend experiencing a tough situation.
Prioritize Self-Care:
Another best way to make yourself feel loved is by doing self-care activities. Let me explain engage in activities that provide nourishment for your mind, body, and soul.
Doing things that you love doing. The activities that provide you peace and bring joy to you. This can involve:
- making time for relaxing. You can either meditate, do yoga listen to music, whatever thing that makes you calm
- pursuing your favorite hobby: Singing, Dancing, Cooking,etc
- nourishing your body with nutritious food,
- doing regular exercise regular exercise,
- ensuring you receive sufficient sleep.
- By prioritizing self-care, you send a message to yourself: that you are worthy of being loved nurtured, and looked after.
Practice Positive Self-Talk:
Positive self-talk is essential to motivate yourself. Try to be aware of what you say to yourself in your subconscious. If you find yourself speaking limiting and negative. Stop it at the moment. Replace those limiting and negative talks with positive affirmations. Take the time to remind yourself of your strengths, achievements, and unique qualities.
I am providing you with some set of the best positive affirmations that you can recite when you find yourself speaking low about yourself :
- I am the best
- I have what it takes to succeed
- I am strong enough to deal with all the situation
- I can do it
- I have got this.
- I can deal with any situation
- I am smart and confident.
Gradually, with consistent practice of positive self-talk, you can reshape your mindset and enhance your self-esteem.
Set Boundaries for yourself:
Embracing self-love also means prioritizing your needs and setting boundaries. Learn to say “no” when something does not align with your values and priorities.
Learn to say NO when you do not want to do certain things, but you usually say yes because of peer pressure.
By setting boundaries,respect yourself, save your energy, nurture healthy relationships,
Initially, this will be a little tough but over a period of time you’ll learn how to perfectly say no to things that does not matches with your vibe.
After a little practice , you will learn prioritizing self-care without experiencing guilt or resentment. Remember, it is perfectly okay to prioritize your own well-being and make choices that match with your authentic self.
Celebrate Your Achievements:
How often do we celebrate our achievements? Once in a very long time right. But how often do we get upset about things if it doesn’t go our way, Every once in a while right?
We always wait that if we achieve something really big in life then we will celebrate. We overlook small tiny achievements that are our step towards our bigger goals. This is not at all correct.
We all should take the time to acknowledge celebrateour accomplishments, regardless of their size.Even the tiniest of achievements deserves a pat on shoulder and a little celebration.
By celebration, I do not mean always spending money in a lavish way. It can be a small celebration, like treating your self with some little gift, eating a piece of your favorite pastry, or just dancing your heart out, or even it can be applauding yourself in the mirror.
Allow yourself to feel pride in your achievements and time and again always reflect on the progress you have made so far. By celebrating your tiny successes, : you boost your confidence and reinforce a positive image of yourself.
You can also maintain a journal or gratitude list to document your accomplishments and moments of personal growth. This can be a reminder of your beautiful journey and the valuable milestones you have reached along the way
Surround Yourself with Positivity:
You know, “WE ARE SO INDULGED IN THE ENVIRONMENT SURROUNDING US THAT WE HAVE FORGOT HOW THE ENVIRONMENT IS AFFECTING US”.
Every once in a while we need to evaluate the impact of the people and environments in our life. Because sometimes even we aren’t aware that how much the environment is consuming us.
It is said that we are the sum of 5 closest people in our life. Hence we need to check our circle, are the people that are really close to you draining your energy? Give it a thought.
Surround yourself with people who bring positivity and support you. People who uplift and encourage you understand you and motivate you.
Minimize your exposure to negativity, toxic relationships, and situations. Because it leads to comparison and diminished self-worth.
It is extremely necessary to create a supportive network around us that nurtures our mental health, our personality and our journey of self-love. By consciously choosing positive influences, we create an environment that motivates us to grow and reinforces our love for ourselves.
Practice Mindfulness and Self-Reflection:
Thes best start to the self love journey can be practicing mindfulness in our daily routine. Dedicate your valuable time to connect with your inner thoughts, emotions and desires.
Following can be best examples of mindfulness activity :
- meditation,
- deep breathing exercises,
- journaling,
- Pranayam
- yoga
- Waking up before sunrise , etc
By practicing mindfulness, we enhance our understanding of ourselves, we learn more about ourselves. We understand our wants and desires in depth. And also we identify the areas where our personal growth is required.
This helps us to make conscious decisions about our life. . Engaging in these practices empowers us, gives greater clarity about ourselves so that we can be our true authentic self.
Embrace Imperfections:
Last but not least, we all need to accept ourselves as we are. Nobody is perfect, everyone has flaws. And we have to accept and love ourselves as we are. Because all our good qualities and flaws makes us who we are.
Understand that perfection is an unrealistic and unachievable ideal. Learn to mbrace your imperfections.The beauty of imperfection is that it makes us different from other, our flaws makes us unique.
Understand that self-growth and self-love arise from wholeheartedly accepting yourself, including your flaws. Embracing your imperfections allows you to have a genuine sense of self-acceptance. And you start appreciating the beauty of your individuality.
Remember, it is through embracing your complete self that you can truly grow and love yourself from within.
Conclusion:
These were some of the most practical and realistic way to embark on your self-love journey.
So all the lovely people reading this, understand, Loving yourself is an ongoing journey that demands patience, self-compassion, and a lot of practice. So be patient with yourself, its not a one day journey.
By practicing these steps into your life, you can develop a wholesome and nurturing relationship with yourself. You will embrace and love yourself the way you are. Remember, the practice of self-love is not a destination but a lifelong commitment that brings immense joy and fulfillment.