Loving yourself is about self-acceptance, but it reaches far beyond that too. It’s a deliberate act of kindness you extend to yourself in a way that you’d extend to others. If you find that it’s far too easy to be kinder to others than you are to yourself, you are long overdo in acts of self-love.
There are many benefits to performing acts of self-love, even if you do it on a regular basis.
Self-love:
- Helps reduce stress
- Increases creativity and problem-solving abilities
- Reduces anxiety
- Helps to increase confidence and motivation
- Helps undo the effects of trauma
- It can help reverse depression
Isn’t it interesting that the thing you don’t feel like doing when you’re depressed is the thing you need to help set you free?
There are endless ways to love yourself. You can focus on the ones that bring you the most joy, but don’t be afraid to branch out with something new too.
1. Journal/Listen to Yourself
Journaling is one of those things some people initially resist but end up loving. If you haven’t journaled before or are used to stuffing your feelings, you might be afraid that journaling will all make it come bursting out. That’s true to an extent, but it does relieve what you have bottled up.
Journaling also gives you a way of using your other senses to engage your brain in a different way. When you get used to thinking certain thoughts, your brain strengthens these pathways in an effort to improve brain efficiency. While this is great for working out math, it’s not so great for negative thoughts. This keeps you locked into having the same thoughts–without change.
Journaling helps to free your mind from this rapid negative cycle: Reading your thoughts helps you to get outside of your head and see things for what they are. This leads to greater self-awareness and a way to resolve problems. Journaling allows you to be a loving friend who is fully attuned and listening. With journaling, you can also let go of all that no longer serves you.
Something Different: Check out “Creative Journaling” by author, Renee Day. This journal is designed to Spark your creativity, as well as keeping you organized with beautiful pages and easy-to-follow instructions on Creative Journaling.
2. Make Time to Relax
It’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day activities. Things “have to” be done, but you “get to” relax. You can decide to realize you “get to” do activities too, but you really need to make it a point to relax on purpose.
Relaxing isn’t just a luxury that is extended to the elite. Relaxing helps the body to undo the harmful effects of stress. In fact, it’s the number one way to reverse stress. This means you can’t just reserve it for once a week or once a month. You need to make relaxation a priority in your day to day schedule.
Make time every day to do something just for you. Make it a part of your routine. It can be a part of your morning or nighttime routine. You might want to curl up with a book and drink hot cider. You could schedule a time to just lie down on the floor, listen to relaxing music and just be.
Whatever it is that helps you to unwind and step back from stress, commit to it and know that you fully deserve it because you do. Let the world outside drift away and embrace tranquility, contentment and everything positive.
3. Invest in Yourself
Investing in yourself means doing activities that are focused on improving your mind and mental, physical and spiritual health. It helps to cultivate who you are as a person. It’s also centered on continually improving yourself–not because you lack anything but because you love yourself.
Investing in yourself can look like many things. It can mean taking a class or reading a book to expand your learning. It can mean committing to daily exercise or eating a healthier diet. Don’t be afraid to try something new too. You could sign up for an art class, learn a new language, take up rollerblading, join a book club, sign up for an online group that also meets in person.
There are no limits to the things you can do. The important thing is that you start and follow through.
4. Treat Yourself
Treating yourself is about extending yourself a gift or something extra special as you would anyone else. You’re saying to yourself “I deserve this” and “I love myself” by treating yourself. You will notice that your mind and body respond to this kindness. You might notice that you sleep better, have less pain, genuinely feel happier and experience less tension in your body.
Treating yourself can mean so many different things: a pedicure, manicure, massage, buying yourself that purse you’ve been eyeing, going on a trip or whatever else that makes you happy.
Take yourself out on a date. Consider watching a beautiful sunset, eating at your favorite restaurant or going to the movies. You can come home from your date to make yourself a relaxing cup of tea and put on your favorite pajamas.
You are going to be the best person to take yourself out on a date because you know exactly what you like and love.
You have never-ending options to treat yourself.
5. Be Kind to Yourself
Treating yourself is one thing, but being extra kind to yourself is something else altogether–even though treating yourself involves kindness. Being kind to yourself shouldn’t just be reserved for days where you have experienced something difficult. It should also be reserved for days you have to do things you dread doing because they’re unpleasant or you have social anxiety, like attending a meeting or going to court.
Some people just power through their tasks without much thought of what’s going on inside. Being kind to yourself means listening to what’s going on but also extending yourself this message, “I’m going to walk you through this difficult time. You can do this.”
You can make deals with yourself too. You might have to attend that meeting, but you can certainly wear the most comfortable clothing while you do. You can pick up a coffee for yourself on the way there, and you can do something extra kind for yourself once you’re done.
By being kind to yourself, you are acknowledging your thoughts and feelings. You are also extending compassion to yourself because you are important.
Final Thoughts
Self-love can take on many forms, but it really boils down to seeing and knowing that you’re important, that you are worthy of love and that you deserve the best.
My Journey to Self Love | Dr. Andrea Pennington
During a TEDx Talk, Dr. Andrea Pennington shares her story to self love. At the end of her presentation, she closes with an amazing song.
