Self-Love

What Is Self-Love

Self-love is the practice of treating oneself with kindness, compassion, and acceptance. It involves acknowledging one's strengths and weaknesses, setting healthy boundaries, and prioritizing one's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Self-love also involves cultivating a positive self-image and developing a deep sense of appreciation and respect for oneself. It is not about being self-centered or narcissistic, but rather about valuing oneself as a worthwhile and deserving individual.

The practice of self-love has been gaining more attention in recent years, as people have become more aware of the need for self-care and self-compassion in a world that often promotes self-criticism and perfectionism.

Why Self-Love is Important

Self-love is important for several reasons, including the following;

1. Improved mental health
2. Improved emotional health
3. Increased self-confidence
4. Increases your self-confidence.
5. Leads to healthier relationships
6. Increased resilience
7. Better decision making

Self-love is an essential aspect of personal growth and well-being, and it can positively impact many areas of your life.  Sadly, many people fear that it is a negative thing and have beliefs around it which are unhealthy - such as it being selfish or self-indulgent. 

With this in mind, below is a list of what self-love is NOT in order to help remove any of these limiting beliefs that may prevent you from practicing self-love. 

Self-love is not:

• Selfishness or narcissism: Self-love is not about putting yourself above others or disregarding their feelings or needs. It is about valuing and caring for yourself so that you can show up as your best self in your relationships and interactions with others.
• Self-indulgence: Self-love is not about overindulging in unhealthy behaviors or habits that may feel good temporarily but ultimately harm your physical, emotional, or spiritual well-being.
• Self-criticism or self-judgment:Self-love is not about constantly criticizing or judging yourself for your perceived flaws or imperfections. It is about treating yourself with kindness, compassion, and acceptance.
• Perfectionism: Self-love is not about striving for perfection or comparing yourself to an unrealistic standard. It is about embracing your strengths and weaknesses and accepting yourself as you are.
• A one-time event or achievement: Self-love is not something that can be achieved overnight or through a single action or event. It is a lifelong practice of valuing and caring for yourself on a daily basis.

When we practice self-love, we show up in the world in a different way and stop looking for love and validation outside of ourselves. It is never too late to begin your self-love journey - you can start today. 

Share This Article

Knowledge is power and little changes can make a big difference to our well-being and how we feel about ourselves.  When we love ourselves for who we are, we are better able to love others for who they are. 

If you found this article helpful, share it with a friend or using our icons above.  We are living in challenging times and the practice of self-love is something that most of us learn very little about,  yet it can show up in many unhealthy patterns in our lives.