You must truly love yourself first before you can truly love others. Yes, it’s such a cliché but it’s so true! You can only give and receive as much love as you can give and receive love to and from yourself. You can start by keeping these 3 ways to show yourself love.
#1 Accept Yourself
In a world where criticism from family, friends and acquaintances, even strangers, abound, the concept of positive self-love can be alien for many people. Fortunately, self-love starts with self-acceptance – and that’s exactly what you need to work on first.
Look into yourself – your positive and negative traits, your abilities and capacities, and your flaws. You aren’t a perfect person but that’s okay because you are a unique individual! You have something in yourself, but it’s up to you to look within and find what makes you truly who you are. t.
Keep in mind that self-acceptance and self-love also requires changing your internal dialogue for the better. You have to be your own coach, mentor and cheerleader although it’s also important to acknowledge and act on your shortcomings.
By accepting and appreciating yourself, you will also learn to accept and appreciate other people. Think about it: You are spreading the love and, in the process, making the world a better place. You can give only what you have.
#2 Give Yourself Quality Time
One of the most important relationship you will ever have is your relationship with yourself. Just like in a relationship with others, you should also give yourself time, attention, and affection on a daily basis. You don’t have to think big either because even a 30-minute me-time each day is sufficient to strengthen your self-love and, thus, your self-respect and self-confidence.
Your “me time” can be anything that you enjoy on your own, whether it’s reading a book in a corner or hiking to the top of a mountain. You have to find activities that make you happy, contented, and at peace because at the end of it, you will be ready to face the world.
You have to remember, too, that nobody else can understand your deepest needs and nobody else can meet them in your desired manner. You must then take matters into your own hands and meet your own needs in your own way and in your own terms.
#3 Exercise Kindness and Gentleness
Love is patient and love is kind. Why can’t you then be patient, kind and gentle with yourself? When you make mistakes, you should avoid harshly castigating yourself, although you should also accept and make amends for them. Your kindness toward yourself should be reflected in your inner dialogue, too.
When you are compassionate toward yourself, you will also likely be more compassionate toward others even when you don’t know exactly what they are going through in life. Again, your self-love will manifest itself in your love for others.
Whenever you feel down for the count, you have to get up and love yourself because nobody can do it better than you do! Family and friends may betray and leave you, but you will always have yourself to rely on for love.
