self-love, decorating in bright colors, and quirky quotes, ordering you to just do it. How? You wonder, before forgetting about it in the next second. 

What is Self-love?

Social media is flooded with “inspiring” posts blaring the message of 

Well, we need to realize self-love is not a one-time journey that you can magically reach by following certain “tricks.” If anything, it’s a lifestyle you need to “maintain” throughout your life amidst the chaos. 

Self-love is an act of appreciating, prioritizing, and caring for yourself. It is the act of putting your happiness and needs before others for your physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being and growth. It is learning to accept your flaws and imperfections as something that is you.

A Small Guide 

Everyone has a different method of loving themselves. But here is a small guide on how to do it.

• Listen to the inner critic. 

There is a nasty, overly-critical voice in our head that slams us for every mistake. The ego loves to complain, resent, judge, and criticize. As a result, our sense of self is always wavering, desperate for outside affirmation and approval. 

Rather than falling prey to your ego, watch over it. In order to love yourself truly, you first must let go of the false sense of self that you’re holding on to. 

Realizing your self-worth and knowing that happiness is an entitlement is the first step towards loving yourself. Quieting down the judgemental, harsh voice and being kind towards yourself is crucial. Self-love is being empathetic, compassionate, and gentle with yourself. 

• Stop Comparing

Every person has their own journey, a different tale to tell. Comparing yourself to supposedly better people, worrying about what others think of you, and doubting yourself are all spectacular methods of holding yourself back from reaching your true potential. 

When you compare yourself with others, you unconsciously tell yourself that others are “better” than you. Break the idea that someone is better or lesser than you. 

Loving yourself does not have to be a grand gesture. It can be little acts of love and care for yourself like complimenting yourself, acknowledging your hard work, and being patient with yourself. 

• Affirmations 

Words, whether vocalized, written, or remain unspoken as thought, can immensely affect their target. Repeat positive affirmations in front of a mirror or whenever something threatens your being. It’s essential to address yourself wisely in difficult situations. Instead of being self-derogatory, be softer and more forgiving. 

Consider this. How would you approach a friend if she’s going through a crisis or struggling to value herself? Obviously, you’re going to comfort her and tell her such a brave soul she’s to face the obstacle while staying true to herself. So, don't you deserve the same protocol? 

Next time, whenever you start to feel lost, comfort yourself as you’re your own dearest friend. 

• Explore Your Creative Side 

What if I tell you that you possess some really unique qualities you’re not even aware of? Sometimes, we are way too busy in our 9 to 5 schedule that there’s no time to explore and spark our creative side. Give yourself days off from your busy life to spend time by yourself, like doing yoga, cleaning, organizing, painting, reading, or cooking. Take yourself on solo dates. Visit cafes, shopping, parks, or art galleries.

• Keep Quality Company

Ever noticed when someone who’s always complaining or judging enters a room and everyone else suddenly feels awful? Due to their negativity, they keep disturbing the aura of others. Luckily for you, positive people have the exact opposite influence. 

Surround yourself with positive people and form healthy relationships. It's also imperative to stay away from toxic people who make you feel less and unimportant. 

Set boundaries and speak your mind if you feel uncomfortable with someone's behavior. Not doing that will only give rise to negativity and resentment, first towards other people and eventually towards yourself.

Give yourself space to feel negative emotions and figure out how to drain them productively. Bottling them up is a way of self-destruction. 

A Word From Us

It’s important to know the difference between self-love and self-ignorance. Self-love doesn’t persuade us to overlook our shortcomings or glorify our bad habits. If anything, it’s a lighthouse that lets us identify our dark side and practically make some radical changes instead of lamenting the past. 

The universe might not revolve around you, but for sure, it starts from you!