The term ‘self-love’ seems quite self-explanatory. Love of self, or appreciating oneself; but how many of us understand what self-love truly means?
Self-love is to accept yourself and your emotions at present and take care of your own needs and desires before anything else. It is a state in which you place your physical, mental, and emotional well-being as the top-most priority. Self-love can also mean different things to different people. For your friend, self-love could mean a long-relaxing session at the salon; for you, it could mean working out every morning without fail in order to take care of your body.
If you’re thinking about why self-love is important, we have a simple quote to share that’s written by Robert Morley–
“To fall in love with yourself is the first secret to happiness.”
– Robert Morley
How to learn and practice self-love and acceptance?
While self-love is for everyone, like we said earlier, it can mean different things to different individuals. Hence, here we have covered the topic under two categories:
Practice self-love as a man
Everybody needs to practice self-love. Here are 5 tips that men can follow to kick off this practice:
1. Have a self-care ritual for yourself
Set aside/block some time on your calendar to allow yourself some ‘self-care time’ daily. It could be as simple as washing your face with a good face wash before you go to sleep or spending some time at a nearby park to meditate in peace. Invest time to take care of your body and health
2. Detoxify your body
Understand that your body is a temple and its organs, bones, skin, nervous system, heart, each and everything, deserve to be protected. Stop abusing your body with alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs. Get more sleep and never starve yourself to lose weight. Remember, if you care for your body, your body will care for you.
3. De-clutter
Men are known to be messy (go on, judge us!). But honestly, clearing mess can be therapeutic! Start with your room; make space and throw/give away things that are unwanted. A clean and tidy environment will help you thrive and be positive. It will help you to think clearly, increase your focus and have a great effect on your mental peace.
4. Find a happy place for yourself
There will always be that one place that will give you a feel-good feeling every time you visit. Try and spend as much time as you want there. It will do wonders for your mental health.
5. Celebrate your successes
Take time to appreciate yourself and the hard work that you do on a daily basis. Never compare your successes with others and conclude your win is nothing compared to theirs. Don’t undermine yourself. Celebrate YOU!
Practice self-love as a woman
When it comes to women, they’re twice as likely to be suffering from depression than men. Practicing self-love can help women to appreciate themselves and improve their self-esteem. Below are some tips:
1. Don’t worry about others’ opinions
Stop taking decisions basis what society will think of you. Want to get a school degree when you’re 50? Go get it.
2. Stop comparing yourself to other women
You’re a homemaker, but your best friend works in a corporate office. So what? You two have your own journeys. Stop thinking she’s happier than you. If being a homemaker is what your heart wants, enjoy it to the fullest. It’s a full-time job! Get rid of negative emotions such as extreme competitiveness, jealousy, or bitterness.
3. Accept your body
Women tend to suffer from body-image insecurities. You may be overweight, fit, or underweight. Are you happy being in that state? If yes, nothing else matters. Accept your body the way it is. Wear whatever you are comfortable in.
4. Put yourself first
Women’s minds are conditioned to believe they should put others first. If something costs you your emotional well-being, stop doing it. Don’t feel bad about putting yourself first.
Learn to say no
Even if it’s a tiny matter, if you think it is disrespectful to you, say no. No matter how hard it is, you don’t have to please everyone if it is detrimental to your peace.
How to practice self-love in a relationship?
Even when you share your life with your partner while in a relationship, it is important to value yourself first. Here are a few tips for practicing self-love when you’re in a relationship:
Be present:
Not just physically, be present at the moment to understand your partner’s needs and emotions even when they’re not very expressive.
Set boundaries:
There is a line in every relationship that neither of you should cross.Have your own “me time.” You do not always have to cling to each other. Give your partner enough space to stay sane and help each other grow.
Have your own friends’ groups:
You do not have to barge in every time your partner’s friends throw a party. Even while being in a relationship, your lover is free to enjoy their social life without you. It always helps when you and your partner have separate groups of friends.
How to practice self-love after a breakup?
Breakups can be hurtful where we lose confidence and go into a self-loathing zone. Here’s how you can practice self-love after a breakup:
Learn to let go:
Believe in the age-old saying, if it was meant to be, it would be. Stop revisiting your past and hurting yourself post a breakup. Accept it and move on.
Take control:
As a self-care practice, take control of your feelings and try to channelize the energy into something fruitful.
Communicate with others:
Take your time after you have had a breakup to stay alone and process whatever happened. But ensure it’s not for a prolonged period. Be with your friends and loved ones. Let them know how you feel. Socialize.
Meditate and focus on positivity:
Drive your mind away from all negative and toxic thoughts. Start practicing mindfulness meditation to increase your focus and to be peaceful.
Key takeaways about self-love and self-care
Society wants us to only be giving towards others while sacrificing our own mental peace and happiness. It’s time to let go of this age-old belief. We need to first think about ourselves before thinking about how our actions/decisions would affect our family/partner/friends! Start practicing self-love and self-care if you haven’t already.
This practice has several benefits. It promotes a healthy lifestyle, you’ll be more satisfied with life, you will know how to deal with adverse situations, and you will also develop healthy self-esteem.
Somebody has rightly quoted, “Self-love, self-respect, self-worth: There’s a reason they all start with ‘self.’ You can’t find them in anyone else.”
Read More:
What is self-love meditation and how to practice it
6 Best Crystals For Self-Love, Confidence, Acceptance
