How to find self love

 

Self-love is the practice of valuing, caring for, and prioritising yourself. It involves acknowledging and accepting yourself, including your strengths and weaknesses, as well as treating yourself with kindness, compassion, and respect. Developing and maintaining self-love can be a lifelong journey, but it is an important one that can have many positive benefits. In this blog post, we will explore what self-love is, how to develop and maintain it, and how to nourish yourself and put yourself first.

We hear about self love all the time and that we need to apply it to our life and journey and we will be better for it. But just what is Self-Love?, and how do we know we have found it? 

Self-love involves developing a positive relationship with yourself . This relationship is built on a foundation of self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-compassion. It involves acknowledging and accepting yourself for who you are, embracing your unique qualities, and recognising your own worthiness and value as a person. We can often sabotage it unintentionally and find ourself struggling to prioritise our own aspects first, which in turn can cause complicated and overthinking in our own mind.  

Self-love also involves taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. This means putting your needs first, setting boundaries and saying no when necessary, taking care of your mind and body through healthy habits, and promoting self-care activities that nourish and support your well-being. Allowing the self to be as important and even more so than anything or one around you. Some people confuse this with being selfish  however the two are very different. 

Developing self-love can be a gradual process, but it is one that is important for our overall health and well-being. Start by becoming more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Notice patterns in your behaviour that might be self-destructive or self-sabotaging. Begin to observe your thought processes and challenge any negative self-talk or self-limiting beliefs. Positive affirmation is key to overcoming and finding a maintainable  way to overcome negative self talk and shifting the mind set.    

By accepting yourself  for who you are, including your strengths and weaknesses. Practice self-acceptance by recognising that we all have flaws and imperfections, and that these flaws do not make us any less valuable as people.

Learn to forgive yourself for things you have no control over, for mistakes you make that helped you survive at the time. Practice self-forgiveness by letting go of past mistakes and not dwelling on them. Instead, focus on what you can learn from those mistakes and how you can grow from them. Treat yourself with kindness, compassion, and understanding. Just as you would offer a supportive, kind word to a friend, offer the same to yourself.

Maintaining self-love is an ongoing practice that requires daily attention and commitment.Take time each day to reflect on what you are grateful for, and focus on the positive things in your life. It’s not always easy, but find just one thing everyday, build upon it and fill your vision with it  helping to shift from a negative aspect to a positive one  even in times of depression, it always helps me to connect to nature, the seasons always turn no matter what I’m going through, that brings a positive daily attribute  

 Learn to say no when necessary, and set boundaries to protect your space, time, and energy.this can be a very hard aspect to grasp especially if you’re a people pleaser, yet it’s a much needed step towards self love. 

Make time for self-care activities, such as meditation, exercise, or other activities that help you feel calm, centred, and renewed. What to you enjoy? What makes you feel fulfilled? Find these pockets of self care and build upon them.  Take pride in your accomplishments, no matter how small, as a reminder of your worth and value as a person.

Putting yourself first can be challenging, especially if you are used to prioritising the needs of others. However, it is important to recognise that taking care of yourself is not selfish, but rather a necessary part of maintaining an overall sense of well-being. It’s not always easy especially when you're a parent or caring for others whose needs are demanding and required. But you still matter in the mix and need to find a way to place yourself within the self care bracket. 

Take time each day to do something that nourishes you, whether it's reading a book, going for a walk, or taking a hot bath. What are your interests and hobbies? Take time to build upon them and to find space to include them in your care package tailored for you. 

Make your health a priority by exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep. We often push it aside and label it as not having enough time, but it’s so important to place it as a priority, rather than waiting until we’re forced to. 

 Remove feelings of guilt or shame for taking care of yourself. Remember that taking care of yourself is not only good for you, but it also benefits those around you. When we are born we rely heavily upon others for our own needs and often forget as we grow that we  can care for the self as a right of passage of maturing and aging. Sometimes we forget to take over that role and still rely on others for taking care of the self, yet we deny the self full care of we continue to seek it from others. Be open and honest about your needs and communicate them clearly to others. Advocating for your own needs can help you create boundaries that honour your time, space, and energy. You deserve to have your needs met and catered for, they’re just as important as anyone else’s around you. 

Self-love is a powerful practice that can have a positive impact on all aspects of our lives. By developing and maintaining self-love, we can cultivate a strong sense of self-worth and confidence, take care of our physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and ultimately live a more fulfilling and purposeful life. So start practicing self-love today, and remember to always put yourself first.

If you feel you would like support, and you feel therapy may be the answer. I offer 15 minute free insight calls, for you to have the chance to discover how therapy might support you. Visit my website for more information. 

www.mindfulmomentstherapies.co.uk

Or email

enquiries@mindfulmomentstherapies.co.uk

Call today for a new tomorrow.