The power of self-love is often taken for granted. As humans, much of our time is spent on busy schedules and daily grinds and putting all of our energy toward the people we care for. And unfortunately, slacking on this subject aids us in missing out on a magnificent opportunity to love ourselves. And while this is all completely normal, it shouldn’t be.
You may not be aware, but self-love, or the lack thereof, dramatically influences all we do. It can affect everything from relationships to coping and managing daily stressors. And while this task seems mighty to take on, it’s not. And luckily enough, altering just a few perspectives and changing things up just a little bit can help you jump-start the process of falling in love with yourself and embracing the life you were meant to lead.
#1. TAKE SOME TIME FOR YOURSELF
Time is the first thing you want to focus on in falling in love with yourself. We all know that time is precious, and most of us don’t have much to spare. But it’s ok to start small. Set aside 10-15 minutes out of your day to do something you enjoy. Here is a list of some activities you could explore for your alone time.
- Meditate
- Start a journal
- Read
- Take a walk outside/be with nature
- Listen to music
The most incredible part of discovering self-love is the steps to get there. So whatever you decide to do, make this activity your own and be sure to do it daily. You’ll soon discover taking just a short amount of time will significantly impact this quest to start loving yourself fully.
#2. STOP NEEDLESS COMPARISONS
Unfortunately, we live in a world where we’re forced to compare ourselves to, sometimes, unattainable standards. And though some comparison might be necessary for a baseline, trying to live up to someone else’s idea of the desired identity gets exhausting and often puts us on a self-loathing path.
The comparisons that you make should be minimal, if not non-existent. Always remember that you are uniquely created and equipped with everything you need to let self-love flourish, you might just have to reconfigure a few things first.
#3. GIVE YOURSELF THE CREDIT YOU DESERVE
Sometimes, the situations we’ve been through hinder the credit we give ourselves for the great things we’ve accomplished. But no matter what you’ve been through, giving yourself the credit you deserve is vital- and self-love depends on this step!
Make a list of all the things that you love about yourself. Write down your talents, successes, and positive attributes. Post it somewhere you can see it often to remind yourself how awesome you are and how far you’ve come despite the boatload of roadblocks you’ve had to conquer.
Celebrate your accomplishments no matter their size. Whether a significant achievement or a small one, it’ll do you good to take the time to recognize and reward yourself for everything. 
#4. STOP SCROLLING
It’s a fact! We’re all addicted to our devices. And though it may seem like a stretch to get rid of socials completely, it is essential to take a beat from time to time. Giving yourself a social media vacation can direct more time for connecting to your self-love mission.
It can also help in the comparison area. It’s easy to get caught up in comparisons when you have access to seemingly perfect lives with the touch of a button. So, as harsh and scary as this may be, it’s a must to take a break from the world of social media- but you can do it because loving yourself is way more important.
#5. UPGRADE YOUR SELF-TALK
Sometimes, we get into the habit of talking down to ourselves, especially if we feel we’ve made a mistake. But regardless of mistakes, be mindful of your inner dialogue, and pay attention to the words you use when talking to yourself. Instead of focusing on your flaws and weaknesses, focus on your strengths and what you appreciate about yourself.
Once you recognize a negative self-thought, replace it with a positive one. And there’s no harm in using self-love affirmations every day. Doing this can change the pattern of talking down to yourself to loving yourself even though you’ve made a mistake or are just having a bad day.
#6. FORGIVE YOURSELF
Though forgiving may be easier said than done, it’s a step that has to be accomplished to keep moving forward and find the peace within. We’re all human and have things we wish we wouldn’t have done at some point. But hanging on to these mistakes can make your life miserable and hinder your chance at loving yourself unconditionally. So here are some ways to start the forgiveness process.
- Learning opportunities: If you’ve made a mistake, try to find the learning opportunity within that mistake. Doing this can remove the mishap’s burden and help you move forward in the healing process.
- Don’t replay the reel: Humans are good at putting the incident on replay within our brains, but it’s best to stop this when you first notice it. Though it’s necessary to reflect at times, don’t live there- it will make it impossible to move forward.
- Support Group: Everybody needs moral support when struggling, especially in learning to love themselves; they’re a great asset. Whether it’s an online community, or family and friends, these folks have your back when you need to hash out your issues.
Remember, self-love is an ongoing journey and doesn’t happen overnight, and following these steps can lead you in the right direction. But however long it takes, it’s essential to be kind to yourself and permit yourself to take care of your needs and feelings. In addition, self-love is empowering and a practice that will help you live a happier, more fulfilled life. So take the time to practice self-love, and you’ll be amazed at the positive results it can bring to your life.
