Is it OK to love yourself?

Many people find it easy to offer kindness, encouragement and understanding to others, yet struggle to extend the same compassion to themselves. Self-love is often misunderstood as arrogance or self-centredness, when in reality it is the foundation of confidence, resilience and emotional wellbeing. Learning to value yourself, appreciate your strengths and trust your own worth can transform the way you experience life and the opportunities you allow yourself to embrace.

It is totally OK to love yourself.

Actually, I believe that you must love yourself to experience a wonderful life.

Robert Holden in Loveability wrote, “Life works when you love yourself, and it doesn’t when you don’t”.

I remember being told that I loved myself too much, I thought I was too nice, you're too big for your boots, and self-praise is no praise.

I used to hate being told this, as I felt like I was wrong for liking myself and acknowledging my achievements. It was as if I had to wait for someone else's approval or acknowledgement of my greatness. I was so confused. What if no one acknowledges this part of my greatness? Should I not hold this part of me in high regard? Should I not be pleased with myself?

That just didn’t make any sense to me at all.

Why self-love is not selfish

“The greatest advantages you can have in life are to view yourself as special and appreciate what those qualities are that distinguish you from every other person.” – Fiona Harrold

There is nothing wrong with loving the person you are and seeking your own approval of yourself. Just to clarify, when I talk of self-love, I am not talking about that self-centred, egotistic attitude that is not self-love at all.

The difference self-love makes

Loving the person you are is to have the greatest possible regard for yourself and to expect to be able to create a positive, successful life for yourself.

Self-love is the key to your growth and evolution. When you look for love and approval outside of yourself, it is because you feel unlovable. The truth is that no outside love can cure this feeling of being unlovable, except the love you have for yourself and show to yourself. If you learn to love yourself, you will never need anyone else's approval again.

Self-love and living a fulfilling life

When you love yourself, you become able to be more tolerant of life’s frustrations. Self-love encourages a more forgiving attitude towards others and yourself. Opposed to a loveless self, which creates a distance and an unsociable personality.

Self-love is about liking the person you are; it is the degree to which you believe that deep down inside of yourself, you are worthy and deserving of the good things that you are about to bring into your life.