Loving yourself is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself. It’s not selfish, it’s not vanity. I am taking about healthy respect towards yourself. You are the most important person in your life and you are always going to be. When you are happy, healthy and fulfilled then you can give to others.
How many times have you found yourself rushing around, doing things for other people, saying yes when you meant no just to look good in the eyes of others? We have all been there. I am not saying not help someone when they need your help or support. I am talking about the moments when your intuition is telling you no, but you are still going to do something just to please somebody. Remember saying no can also be a loving response when you really mean no and not going against your will. The other thing to remember is that you are investing the precious hours of your life to something you are not so keen to do. Keep in mind: The best gift you can ever give to someone is your time, because you are giving them something you’ll never get back!
Ask yourself these important questions: Who do you spend your time with? How do you spend your time? Does your job make you happy? Do you do certain things because you believe you have to do them? Do you worry a lot? Get honest with yourself and really answers those questions as truthfully as possible. Do you love yourself enough to admit that maybe you have been neglecting yourself up to this point? Worries, fears, going to jobs we don’t like, staying in unhealthy relationships, pleasing other people on our account. These are just a few examples of negative habits which should be replaced with self-love. I have a few tips for you which can lead you closer to loving yourself a bit more today.
1. TAKE YOURSELF ON A DATE
That’s right! Take yourself on a date. This may sound funny, but it is actually an act of self-love. Take yourself for a lunch and order your favourite meal. Go to the cinema. Go for a shopping and buy yourself something lovely. Do whatever feels good! I love visiting my local airfield, sit in the cafe and watch little aeroplanes departing and landing on a nice, sunny day. This always brings me so much joy and there is nothing else I need at that moment. No stress, no worries, just pure self-love and happiness. Learn to enjoy your own company and “take yourself on a date” do it at least once a month, you deserve it!
2. WRITE YOURSELF A LOVE LETTER
Take a pen and paper and make sure you are not going to be disturbed for about 10-15 minutes (maybe longer). Start listing all the things you love about yourself. List anything you can think of. For example: I’m a talented painter, I’m a great parent, I make the best chocolate cake, I’m a good dancer and so on… I can assure you there are plenty of great things about you…you might have just have been dismissing them or simply forgot to appreciate yourself more. The purpose of this exercise is to shift your energy to self-love and appreciation. This way you will start reaching for some higher frequencies, you’ll start feeling better about yourself and you’ll love yourself more.
3. AND ALL THE OTHER “LITTLE” THINGS
Life is too short to be only doing things you feel you have to do. Have some fun and do what “really” makes you happy! Listen to your favourite music, pack your bags and take the weekend off, go camping, take that class you always wanted to take, cook yourself a healthy meal, make yourself a cup of tea and read a good book, go to nature, meditate, surround yourself with positive like-minded people, take a flying lesson (and I can talk a lot about that), never give up on your dreams (give up all the excuses and limiting beliefs- age, status and all the other lies…). You are good enough and you can do anything. This is your life and only you choose what you want to do with it!
So these are just few tips you can apply to your life if they resonate with you. Also make your own. Remember to love yourself first, then everything else follows. I will leave you with a beautiful quote from Buddha which speak for itself: “YOU, YOURSELF AS MUCH AS ANYBODY IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE, DESERVE YOUR LOVE AND AFFECTION!” ~Buddha