You are amazing: Ways to practise self-love

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” - Oscar Wilde

It is essential to learn to love yourself. If you have low self-esteem, work on it. You can’t rely on others, waiting for them to please you or reassure you that you are worthy.

When you are in a relationship, low self-esteem can sometimes lead you to put the other person on a pedestal while you constantly think that you are not good enough for them. If you are insecure and you believe that your partner is better than you are, you may end up seeking reassurance or validation from elsewhere.

In the end, this can leave you feeling guilty or even worse about yourself. Then the gap between you and your partner may only get bigger and deeper. Don’t let this pattern take over. Work on your self-confidence, love and accept every bit of yourself. Each and every one of us is amazing. If you don’t know where to start, find a coach who can guide you.

One of the biggest myths about love is that it has to be something outside of us, when the truth is that we have power inside ourselves to experience this feeling. This love is much greater than romantic love, and it often starts by realising that we are our own source of it. Remember, love is all around.

Anyone who is close to me knows I am quite close to my heart and learned to love myself a long time ago. Was it easy? No, it most definitely wasn’t. I worked extremely hard on myself until, one day, I finally understood that the only way to live a happier and better life was if I accepted my weaknesses and imperfections and forgave myself for the occasional mistakes I made.

Here is a list of tips that you could try to boost your love towards yourself.

Ways to practise self-love

• Give your body, soul and mind what they desire. Make sure you have some time each day to nourish and pamper yourself, and try to meditate on a regular basis.
• Learn to say no. Don’t let others use or step all over you. Be smart and set your boundaries.
• End toxic relationships and step away from those people who are just there to criticise you. Surround yourself with those who love you for who you are and support you.
• When someone compliments you, don’t start to think about how you can pay back the compliment. Embrace it and say thank you.
• You made some mistakes? So what? Learn from them and forgive yourself. No one is perfect. You probably did the best you could have done in that moment.
• Stop the comparison. You are unique, so please understand that you shouldn’t compare yourself to anyone, only to yourself.
• You may love yourself more if you see yourself accomplishing what you set out to do. Get out of your comfort zone and try something different. Don’t be afraid to fail.
• You are much better than you think.
• Celebrate your successes, no matter how small or big they are. Never miss an opportunity to give yourself a pat on the shoulder when you accomplish a goal you have set yourself.
• Last but not least, get into the habit of keeping a success and gratitude journal.

Practising self-love might be challenging, especially in a time when you need to face some serious challenges. But in order to have a healthy and happy life, it can be essential.

Smiling can also help. When you smile, people may treat you differently. After all, a smile is the prettiest thing we can ever wear. Did you also know that your smile can be contagious? Test it. I encourage you to smile at the first person.