Back in middle school and high school, when I would hear people talking about loving themselves, I took it as them being vain and self-absorbed. It wasn't until I realized that loving yourself lays the foundation for healthy relationships, a healthy mind, and a positive outlook.
At first, I did not find it easy. At all. It felt as if it was engraved in me to love others more than myself, but the truth is that loving yourself should come first and everything else second, and that in no way makes you selfish. It just doesn't.
So here are some things you can implement today to start the journey of Self-Love.
1. Stop comparing yourself to others.
Comparison is most definitely the thief of joy. It's hard when our society is so bent on standardizing beauty, but reminding yourself every day that everyone is meant to be different and unique in both mind and body is the one of the first steps to finding peace.
2. When you find yourself degrading yourself, stop.
Just realize it and stop yourself dead in your tracks. Becoming more aware of these toxic habits and actively working to stop them when you recognize it is a good habit to have. By stopping yourself and replacing the negative thoughts about yourself with positive ones, you can cultivate a relationship with yourself that is constructive, not destructive.
3. Understand that everyone is supposed to be different, and that's okay.
Unity in diversity is one of my favorite concepts in today's world. Society is really focused on dividing people lately, but accepting others because of reasons from beliefs to skin color is an important aspect that people everywhere should spend more time practicing.
4. Take time for yourself.
It's so easy to get wrapped up in doing things for your job or school or other people that we can so easily and often do forget that we need to treat ourselves! Taking time to do things for yourself is therapeutic and it's 100% OKAY! Don't let anyone else ever degrade you for taking time to love and respect yourself.
Loving yourself is definitely a process, but it is not impossible! Everyone deserves to know that it's perfectly okay to love yourself and should be more common.
