Loving yourself comes with no risks and many rewards. Love is an all-encompassing thing (for lack of a better word). Everyone and every (living) thing in this universe needs love. Love is vital to the development of people, so why don’t most people truly love themselves so they can grow into the person they’re meant to be? Here are several reasons why you need to love yourself.

1. You treat others with respect.

2. You have the biggest heart.

3. You put others first.

4. You’re the only person who looks like you. (You’re unique!)

5. You’re the only person that has the amazing personality that you have. (You’re very, very unique.)

6. Only you have that infectious laugh and smile.

7. You’re the only person who loves others the way you do. (Yes, this one should come after falling in love with yourself.)

8. You’re fiercely loyal.

9. You’re a stable, independent human being.

10. You fight for what’s right.

11. You don’t give up.

When you love who you are, you accept who you are, flaws and all. No one else will accept you fully if you don’t accept yourself.

There are so many people in this world who don’t love themselves. It’s a daily struggle that many of us go through in our lifetime. We don’t like the way our bodies look. We don’t like the way the acne on our face or the wrinkles or the moles look. We want others to be attracted to us when it really only matters that you are attracted to yourself. The love we can give ourselves is such a great feeling. It almost rivals the love God has for us (but not really). It is very important, though, that we love the person God created us to be. He chose for me to look the way I do, and I need to embrace that and love every single part of who I am, including the flaws. That’s what makes me who I am, and I want nothing more than to be proud of the woman I am.

Other people love me. Other people love you. When we get disappointed by the people we love, we get upset. Some may get more upset than others, and I think maybe that’s because they aren’t fully in love with themselves and all they want is love and approval from others. I struggle with believing that others may actually be the problem, so then I turn into a self-pitying and depressed girl who thinks that everything is her fault. And it’s even worse when it’s not my fault. That’s when I need to put on my 19-year-old big girl panties and suck it up (in the wise words of my mama).

You deserve love and happiness, and the only way you’ll get either of these is by loving yourself first. Be secure in who you are. Love those curvy hips. Love those dangly arms. Love that goofy sense of humor. Love that desire to help people. Love you.

There are billions and billions of people on this Earth, but no one will ever be able to love you the way you do. Give yourself a pep talk whenever it’s needed. Give yourself the love you deserve.