8 Simple Ways to Love Yourself a Little More

Sharon Moore November 11, 2013

How much do you love yourself? Many of us seem to be guilty of something – loving ourselves. But a great deal of research tells us that self-love is important to our health and well-being. It is also vital to our personal growth and social relationship.

You need not wait for a grand vacation or wish for a long weekend to show the loving and caring your inner self needs. There are some things you can do daily to express self-love. Here are some of them:

Take time to listen to your feelings. You have to treat yourself like you treat your best friend. Listen to the child within you. Understand what he or she is feeling right now. Ignoring your feelings can result to emptiness and lack of happiness. Before you sleep each night, take time to ask yourself – How was my day? What were the negative emotions I felt during the day? What were the positive ones?

Be compassionate about your feelings. If you ignore what you feel, your inner self will feel unloved, rejected or abandoned. But if you will show some understanding, and most of all, acceptance, it will feel loved and prepared to change, for the better.

Forgive yourself for your past mistakes. If until now, you are still haunted by the mistakes of your past, you are being terribly rude towards yourself. Ask yourself – how would I feel if a friend didn’t accept my apologies? That is what your inner self will also feel.

Choose to be with loving people. Look for friends who can influence you to become more self-loving, not self-harming. Being with supporting and caring peers will make you feel loved with less effort. Several studies have shown that positivity is contagious. When you are always with positive people, you become like them over time.

Tune in to your creativity. Let your talents amuse and delight you, especially during difficult moments. Sing, dance, bake, draw, write – indulging in creative activities is a great outlet for stress relief. It is also a great bonding moment with your inner self.

De-clutter your space. A chaotic environment stimulates negative thoughts and emotions whereas a clean, fresh and organised space promotes relaxation and peace of mind. Rearrange your living room, try a new paint, decorate, buy a new furnishing – all these things can make you feel better.

Work hard, play harder! Make sure to observe balance in your life. If you give more focus on work, you might lose more important things in your life. We need time to work but we also need time to rest and rejuvenate. Make sure you are getting your 8-hour sleep each night, and you are having an enjoyable “me-time” daily, even for just thirty minutes. This period can be attributed to activities or things that you enjoy like meditating, visualising, planning, watching TV, etc. And, don’t forget to have a longer “me-time” during weekends!

Find the work you love. With the economic hurdles, finding the job we really want can be a big challenge. But it is possible. You don’t always have to quit your present job. You can still enjoy even if you’re not in your dream career. But make sure to take the opportunity to pursue what you really are passionate about.

Expecting other people to make you feel loved will lead you to nowhere unless you become the first one to love yourself. Treat yourself like your best friend. Learn to understand the child within you, and care for it. By establishing a positive and loving relationship with yourself, you are going to feel more satisfied with the life you have now.

Give yourself a little more love. You deserve it!