People strive for perfection, and perfectionism is regarded as a superior quality or quality than self-love. It is simple to imagine someone reading a self-help book or embracing a tree when we talk about self-love, but it is much more than that. A lot of studies have shown that self-love is the key to mental wellbeing and it keeps depression and anxiety at bay.

As a result, we frequently overjudge ourselves without realizing it. In some way or another, social interaction, work, hopes for the future, weekend plans, and other things have us all stuck up and engrossed.

In a world where we must work, think, and behave like programmed robots, love is the one thing that keeps us going and makes us less robotic. Everyone needs love, and we devote the majority of our energy to showing love to those around us, including our friends, spouses, kids, and families.

The concept of self-love is important because we can’t always rely on other people to show us affection. A person who practices self-love will never need to rely on others for the powerful feeling of inner delight.

Definition

Self-love is a state of appreciation for oneself that grows from actions that support our physical, psychological and spiritual growth. Having a high regard for your own happiness and well-being is what it means to love yourself.

Importance of self-love

It’s important to love yourself – because that’s who you’re spending the rest of your life with . We also understand that accepting who we are motivates us to lead healthy lives. A sound feeling of self-worth, self-esteem, and self-assurance are necessary components of self-love.

Self-love helps reduce stress

Self-care is a significant part of self-love. When you appreciate who you are, you can recognize the signs of burnout and take steps to reduce your stress. If you don’t love yourself, you might not think you deserve a break. Accepting the idea of doing something “just for me” can be quite difficult. You are therefore more likely to persevere in the face of difficulty. When under stress, those who have good self-love are more apt to prioritize self-care.

Self-love can help you develop healthier habits

According to data, choosing to love yourself can influence your health decisions. In a Health Psychology meta-analysis of 15 studies, researchers found that when people accepted themselves without harsh judgment, they were more motivated to make positive changes in their life.  This was the situation, according to a study, when people started to stop smoking and included exercise and eating more healthfully. People who practiced self-compassion developed these new healthier habits.

Self-love improves your emotional resilience

It’s simple to fall into hopelessness when things are tough. You might have to cope with folks who blame you for your issues, depending on the circumstances.You might take the blame. Self-care and self-love put things in a perspective and counter negative, critical self-talk. Self-love enables you to move forward and learn from your mistakes, even if they led to your troubles. This helps build your emotional resilience and prepares you for your future challenges.

Self-love improves your relationships

There’s a phrase that goes, “Until you love yourself, you can’t fully love others.” Although a little over the top, appreciating yourself can improve how you connect with other people. You won’t feel as reliant on other people for your sense of worth when you love yourself. This makes it easier for you to establish boundaries or, if necessary, leave toxic relationships. Since they have a greater understanding of who they are, people who love themsleves are also more able to recognize the types of relationships they want and don’t want.

Self-love makes you more productive

Procastination is killer of the productivity. You might use several methods to motivate yourself. Some people try threats of self-punishment as tactic to try and start an activity, but research indicates that it is ineffective as a motivator especially for a long term. It is necessary to have compassion for yourself when you tend to procastinate.

It’s better to have compassion for yourself when you procrastinate. Use your “failure” as a learning opportunity for the future. Instead of being bogged down with self-criticism, you’ll feel lighter and ready to make changes to your behavior.

Self-love can help manage anxiety and depression symptoms

Research suggests that people with high levels of self-compassion have a lower risk of developing anxiety and depression. This doesn’t mean that you’re anxious or depressed. It does imply that aspects of self-love such as self-care, self-compassion and positive self-talk can help manage symptoms. Self-love can aslo help free you from the common belief that mental illness is somehow your fault.

Self-love can increase your happiness

Accepting and loving yourself is linked to higher satisfaction with life, and therefore, more happiness. When you’re constantly analyzing your flaws and criticizing your choices, it’s hard to feel happy about anything. Self-love encourages you to think of yourself like a dear friend. You can acknowledge that you’re not perfect, but still worthy of acceptance and support.

Self-love can boost your confidence

It’s very difficult to feel confident if you’re focused on criticizing yourself. People with negative self-talk often struggle with low self-esteem. A lack of confidence naturally follows. If you want to feel more confident, self-love is a good way to exercise that muscle. Recognize your worth and skills, be compassionate when you’re frustrated with yourself, and you’ll notice your confidence building.

Self-love helps you achieve your goals

Self-love teaches that your dreams deserve priority. It isn’t selfish to go after what you want in life. People may try to tell you otherwise, but as long as you aren’t trampling on others to reach your goals, you should live life in the way that fulfills you. Self-love also provides the tools you need to achieve your dreams, such as reduced stress, emotional resilience, increased productivity, and confidence.

Self-love inspires others

The concept of self-love can be very challenging. You might be working through the belief that says self-love equals selfishness. The benefits of self love we have given thus far may not be quite convincing. Keep in mind and consider this :  Loving yourself helps other people. Like happiness, self-love can be contagious. If you model what a healthy relationship with self looks like, it helps others see why that’s important. They’ll begin to practice more self-care and self-compassion. Everyone around you-and not just you- benefits when you love yourself.

How to practice Self-love

When we talk-about self-love, it is easy to picture someone reading self-help book or hugging a tree; but self-love is much more than that.It is an overall process of recognizing our strengths and embracing our faults and weaknesses which is not easy, as we know our self the best than others. Being able to love ourselves even when we are aware of all our faults, mistakes and wrong doings, requires a lot of strength. So here are some of the ways to practice self-love in our life.

Ways to practice self-love include:

• • Becoming mindful
    People who have more self-love tend to know what they think, feel, and want. They tend to be more present in the life they are living. They are aware of things around them and give their full attention to whatever they are currently doing.

• • Taking actions based on need rather than want
    By staying focused on what you need, you turn away from automatic behavior patterns that get you into trouble, keep you stuck in the past, and lessen self-love. Most of the people are inclined towards their desires rather than their needs. But once they practice self-love in their routine, they get the clarity between their wants and needs and take actions as per the requirement in their life.

• • Practicing good self-care
    You will love yourself more when you take better care of your basic needs. People high in self-love nourish themselves daily through healthy activities, like sound nutrition, exercise, proper sleep, intimacy and healthy social interactions. Being more aware and disciplined about the daily routines, regulating emotions properly, taking timely breaks, working on in habits can be a good way to practice self-care.

• • Making room for healthy habits
    Start truly caring for yourself by mirroring that in what you eat, how you exercise, and what you spend time doing. Do stuff, not to “get it done” or because you “have to,” but because you care about you. Make an habit of doing things that provides you peace and tranquil.

• • Stop comparing yourself with others
    We often have a habit of comparing ourselves with other. Be it with the one we know or the people we see in the social medias. Doing so we create turmoil in our mental peace and quiet. We all have our own personal timeline and pace. Comparing it with others will only disrupt that timeline.

• • Don’t worry about others opinion
    Everybody have lived their life in their own way and have own experiences. Its natural that people have different opinions about different things. But we should also remember that we have our own life and our own experiences that many people not know of. Hence, people giving you their opinions shouldn’t worry you because they are yet to know all parts of your life.

• • Allow yourself to make mistake
    Many of us have a habit to be presented as a perfect person. A person without flaws, failures and mistakes. Especially as we are a part of technological society where social media has been the major part of us, being accepted as we are is getting harder day by day.

• • Remember your value doesn’t lie in how your body looks
    There are unsaid stereotypes about body image in our society. Society expects us to present ourself as happier, healthier and fashionable being. In the name of being healthy and fit, unrealistic body image. It is necessary to remind yourself that your physical appearance is just a part of you, the “YOU” that makes whole of you has many beautiful other parts too. Therefore, remember your value doesn’t lie in how your body looks.

• • Don’t be afraid to let go of toxic people
    We have many people in our life.  Some of them are good for us, some aren’t. Just because people are in your life or you are related to them, doesn’t mean you have to tolerate everything they do. There are good and unpleasant things in life; some are blessings and some are lessons. If you are willing to take care of yourself and let go of futile energy.

• • Process your fear
    An individual have various emotions throughout their life. Among them there are few  primary universal emotions that includes happiness, surprise, contempt, sadness, fear, disgustand anger. It’s critical to regulate your emotions. 

• • Trust yourself to make good decision for yourself
    Many a times we trust others for advices and suggestion about our own life. We believe people beyond us, are experienced and knowledgeable to decide for us. But like we mentioned before no body knows you and your life better than you. Therefore, trusting yourself to make a good decision for yourself will help you get clarity in life.

• • Put yourself first
    In commnity like ours, where collectivism is prioritised over individualism, putting ourselves first before our loved and near ones seems selfish. We have been taught to do things for others than ourselves. In the midst of this culture putting our needs above others may feel wrong but taking care of ourselves shouldn’t make you feel so. You can’t pour from an empty cup. So take care of yourself first.

• • Take every opportunity life present or create your own
    Humans have psychological needs that must be met in order for us to feel fulfilled and move forward in life. Freedom to advance and grow is one of these necessities. Therefore, in order to continue functioning normally, one must look into and seize any opportunities that present themselves. If the chance isn’t there, one should at least make an effort to produce on their own.
    

• • Express pain and joy as fully as you can
    An individual has both high and lows in their life. Somedays it is filled with joy, other days it is full of pain. One needs to experience both of these, that is what makes us the human we are now. A willingness to experience the pain is a crucial step to our pursuit of genuine happiness, and that our efforts to escape unpleasantness or seek out only the positive in fact weaken us in managing life’s inevitable difficulties. Sometimes exposing ourselves to pains which have a clear parameter around them can lead to contrast and help us to experience more pleasure in life.

• • Exercise boldness in public
    Being bold means to become confident, courageous and fearless. It is much simpler to appear brave, self-assured, and fearless when you are alone; but, acting in these ways in front of others is a very different matter. Being brave in public boosts our self-confidence and strengthens our self-image.

• • See beauty in the simple things
    The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely. It is wonderful to find beauty in simplest of things to make us happy and at peace.
    

• • Be kind to yourself
    In this cruel world it is difficult to be kind and compassionate to others and even more to ourselves. 
    
    

Finally, to practice self-love, start by being kind, patient, gentle and compassionate to yourself, the way you would with someone else that you care about.

Self-love, self-care, self-compassion. It may sound selfish and indulgent. But it’s absolutely essential to your mental health and wellbeing. And it doesn’t mean you have to always prioritize your needs over everyone else’s. If anything, having a good relationship with yourself is a selfless act. Because how you treat others is often a reflection of how you treat yourself.

“An empty bottle can’t fill other bottle so we need to feel ourselves with love to be able to share it with others.”