13 Ways to Start Loving Yourself More
If you're anything like me, you constantly put yourself last. You focus on taking care of everyone else and making sure their needs are met before your own. But what happens when you neglect your own needs? You end up feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and resentful, in perpetual burn-out mode and days are just something to “get through” rather than being able to fully enjoy and look forward to each moment. Sound familiar?
Have you ever stopped to think about how much you criticize yourself? Chances are, you’re way harder on yourself than anyone else is. This seems especially true for those who have been mentally and emotionally abused at some point in their lives. Any type of abuse can make us start to devalue ourselves which makes it harder to truly love ourselves.
Today, I want you to make the conscious decision to start loving yourself more. If you are ready for a change and to break all sorts of negative patterns and generational curses, it's time to start putting yourself first. You can’t pour from an empty cup!
Here are 13 ways to start loving yourself more:
Understand that self-love is an ongoing journey, not a destination
Make a list of things you like about yourself and go back to it when you need a boost
Write down your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem
Identify your personal values and how you can live more in line with them
Practice self-compassion - Be gentle and forgiving with yourself when you make mistakes (we ALL make them!)
Make time for yourself every day - even if it’s just 10 minutes
Appreciate your unique qualities and the things that make you YOU!
Spend time with positive and supportive people who will help you feel good about yourself
Connect with others who share your values and are on the right path who can help support your self-love journey
Spend time in nature, surrounded by the beauty of the world around you
Find healthy ways to cope with stress and negativity
Be open to change - As you grow and change, so will your idea of what it means to love yourself
Smile at yourself in the mirror every day and tell yourself that you are beautiful, worthy, and valuable, because… you ARE!!!
So how are you going to start loving yourself today? It can be something as simple as setting aside time each day for yourself, even if it’s just 10-15 minutes. During that time, do something that brings you joy—read your favorite book, take a hot bath, go for a walk outdoors. And don’t forget to give yourself credit for all the amazing things you do every day! Acknowledge your accomplishments, big and small, and tell yourself that you’re worth taking care of. I promise that when you start putting yourself first on a regular basis, you’ll feel so much better both mentally and physically.
Just because you put yourself first doesn’t mean you become selfish or neglect others, it simply means you are making a conscious decision to take care of yourself so that you can better take care of others.
How are you going to start loving yourself today?
Let me know in the comments. I promise, it will be worth it. You DESERVE it!
Until next time,
~ Crystal