How to Promote Self-Love

 A requirement of life and the most critical aspect of one's well-being, self-love is the fundamental human building block. Unfortunately, we often neglect this essential ingredient in our happiness equation. In doing so, we put ourselves at risk for a host of problems ranging from low self-esteem to depression and anxiety to burnout and substance abuse.

Self-love is defined as 'love of self." Some categorize it as vain, while others describe it as egotistical or selfish. But in reality, it is not any of those things. Self-love is the opposite; it is caring for and nurturing your health, wellness and well-being.

Why Promote Self-Love?

The questions is WHY NOT promote self-love... Positive emotions increase our chances of making better decisions, building stronger

relationships, achieving success at work, managing stress, lowering blood pressure and improving our sleep and overall wellness. So it only makes sense that cultivating a practice of positive thoughts and feelings will help us live happier, healthier lives. Unfortunately, so many of us have difficulty doing this on our own. The constant stresses of everyday life make it difficult for us to maintain a healthy level of positivity. Fortunately, there are tools and techniques we can use to help us cultivate a practice of self-love and help us remain healthy and happy even when times are tough.

Simple Ways You Can Promote Self-Love

Self-love is a fundamental part of self-care, and when we take care of ourselves we feel more energized, motivated and productive. Here are some simple ways to incorporate self-love into your daily life:

• Be kind to yourself.
• Choose to be positive instead of negative.
• Learn to forgive yourself when you make mistakes.
• Avoid overworking and taking time for yourself.
• Practice good nutrition by eating healthy food and exercising regularly.
• Limit your exposure to stressful situations and things that cause you stress.
• Get enough sleep.
• Make time to socialize and spend time with loved ones.
• Show gratitude by focusing on the positive things in your life.
• Live in the present moment 

DONT's of self love ... these are self destructing behaviors

1. compare yourself to others or their successes 

2. give up- if we make this move- what we are telling ourself is that we are "weak" and can't handle things- which sends a signal to out conscience and we speak negatively about ourself. There are multiple was to succeed in life 

3. lie to yourself - you're not hurting anyone but yourself 

4. feel sorry for yourself- it gets rough out here (social media is harsh, life is ruff, people are people), but you have to learn how to manage and control your emotions are key. 

5. be concerned about others opinions or seek validation- people will have something to say regardless. Short hair, long hair, no hair- someone will have something negative to say. 

6. pleasing others - this will drain all of your energy and love. You will have none to give to yourself. 

I completely understand. You have a husband, children, or other loved ones who need and demand your attention as well. But where is the but? You must take care of your own needs and not sacrifice your sanity or wellness to please others, especially if you know it will not serve you or is detrimental to your well-being. The saying "You can't pour from an empty cup" couldn't be more true when it comes to self-care. According to the Washington Post, self-care is a critical element of healthy living that impacts every aspect of your life, including your mood, your relationships, and your overall productivity at work.

Who will look after you if you don't look after yourself? Your husband, wife, children, and others are by your side. But will they love you as much as you love them? Do they understand how to love you? Do you know how to love yourself?

Studies show that healthy relationships start with self-love. You can't expect to give and receive love if you are constantly pushing down your needs and feelings. A lack of self-love can lead to resentment of others and even self-hate. When we don't love ourselves we start to feel as though we aren't good enough the way we are. We find ourselves comparing ourselves to other people and feeling less than them. This feeling often leads to depression and other mental health problems like anxiety, addiction and eating disorders.

 The take home: We need to learn to love and accept ourselves as we are before we can truly love someone else. Every relationship is built on trust and mutual respect - you need to trust yourself and believe that you are worthy of love and respect before you can be worthy of someone else's love.