Self-love is something we all need to practice. Think of how much inner peace you would have if you loved yourself. Not only would you enjoy being with yourself, but other people would enjoy being around you too. Here are some ways to practice self-love.
- Listen to your feelings. Pay attention to your wishes and desires. Your feelings should guide you to your actions, not what others dictate. Perhaps you feel sad and want to be alone, or maybe you feel lonely and want to be with friends. If you don’t pay attention to your feelings, eventually you won’t be know what you feel.
- Do what you need to do. Sometimes what you need is different from others. And that is OK. We are all different. Many people are too busy pleasing others instead of doing what they need. If these people are your friends, they will respect your needs.
- Don’t expect yourself to be perfect. None of us are. You will make mistakes and that is fine. Make amends for them, learn from them, and move on. Humor also helps when we make mistakes.
- Giving some time for the benefit of others makes us feel good. If you are someone who is anxious or depressed, it will help to get you out of your head. When you are volunteering it will keep you occupied and prevent you from ruminating.
- Surround yourself with positive people. Have you ever noticed that you feel down around certain people? If so, stay away from them. You don’t need toxic people in your life. Spend time with people who accept you as you are and bring joy into your life.
- Spend less time online. When we look at social media we see the best of everyone’s life. It’s easy to assume that everyone else is so happy, and if you compare yourself you may feel let down. Remember, people only post the best of the best. They don’t post a picture when they are bored or lonely.
- Make a list of all the things you are grateful for. When you practice gratitude it helps you feel at peace with yourself and focus on all the wonderful aspects of your life.
- Reach out to friends or family when you are struggling. We all have difficult times in our life. When we share our burdens with others, it helps to lessen life’s challenges. We all need others to survive.
- Spend time doing some things on your own. Take yourself out to dinner, or get a manicure or pedicure, go to the beach. When you enjoy your own company you are practicing self-love.
- Just breathe. Taking some slow deep breaths and being appreciative of the world around you can be very soothing. You don’t have to always be on the go.
If this is something you have a hard time with, therapy can help. Give me a call at 713-304-6554.
Take care,
Debbie
