Like most people, you’ve probably been socialised to think that prioritising yourself and your needs is self-serving. Instead, you devote yourself and your energy to serving others. But as the old adage goes: “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. So, this month of love, we’d like to remind you that love starts with you!
Self-love is about having a high regard for your own well-being and happiness by practising actions that support your physical, psychological and spiritual growth. Love is challenging work and unfortunately, the same applies to self-love. You have to make a conscious effort to consistently cultivate it.
We’ve put together 4 tips to help you master the art of self-love!
1. Set healthy boundaries
Setting healthy boundaries can have an immense influence on the behaviour of others and how they treat you. It’s not only important for your mental wellness, but it’s also a crucial aspect of establishing your identity. This autonomy can help you form a healthier and more fulfilling relationship with yourself and others.
2. Be kind to yourself
Being kind to yourself is heavily rooted in your self-esteem. You need self-compassion to be able to see yourself as a flawed, imperfect human being and still hold yourself in high regard. Research shows that having more self-compassion builds resilience in the face of adversity, helping you recover from trauma more quickly. It can also help you cope better with failure or embarrassment.
3. Practice self-care rituals
Yeah, we know, this is an obvious one! But as cliché as this tip may be, we can’t simply skate past it! Self-care is an integral part of self-love. Adopting healthy habits, practising mindfulness, and regularly carving some time out for yourself are just a few self-care rituals you can practice to reinforce self-love.
4. Be authentic
Authenticity allows you to walk a path that aligns with your values and beliefs. Needless to say, this cannot materialize without a deep level of self-awareness. When you are self-aware, it’s easier to set personal boundaries and protect yourself from toxicity so you can be the best version of yourself.
Before you drop off to go put these tips into practice, check out this post on why it’s important to put yourself first.
