Self care is something that is thrown around a lot lately in the personal development world.  Sometimes it gets brushed off as a luxury or something we don’t have time for. But I have been thinking about how self care is more than just pampering yourself; it is about loving yourself enough to make yourself a priority. It is truly loving yourself for who you are. When you care for yourself and love yourself for who you are, you have much more to give others. To receive love from others, you have to love yourself first. I think that gets forgotten.

You don’t have to compare, judge, or fear others when you love yourself. You don’t have to look for approval or acceptance from others because you already have it from yourself. It really is at the heart of living your best life.

But what does it mean to love yourself first?

From the website Essential Life Skills, the definition of loving yourself is this, “To love yourself means to accept yourself as you are and to come to terms with those aspects of yourself that you cannot change. It means to have self-respect, a positive self-image, and unconditional self-acceptance.”

That can be very hard!

We live in a world that idolizes people who seem to have it all. Good body, great looks, lots of money, and a successful career. Most advertising is geared toward buying things that make us look younger, richer, or better looking. It makes it very hard to be happy with where you are at now!

But, imagine a world where everyone loved themselves.

There would be no more…

• Criticizing
• Judgment
• Name calling
• Stress
• Persecution of any kind
• Unwarranted Fear

When you love yourself, you have no choice but to love everyone around you. You want to share unique gifts that only you can share, and you can receive unique gifts from others.

I know that is a pipe dream! But I believe that if we do a little bit to love ourselves a little more, we may start a ripple effect.

“The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” Joseph Campbell

Learn to Love Yourself First

Accept when you make a mistake

Watch your negativity and the way you talk to yourself. Every mistake is a learning opportunity; if you love yourself, you will move on and try again. Forgive yourself when you do something wrong, and apologize to yourself.

Accept your beauty

Learn how to look in the mirror and see yourself as beautiful. You have a unique beauty that no one else has. Don’t wish you looked like someone else. Tell yourself all of the beautiful things you see. Color in your eyes, a beauty mark on your temple, muscles in your arms, beautiful skin, gorgeous smile, skinny ankles, glowing hair, etc., etc.

Put your health first

Do what you know you need to do to be healthy. Eat less, move more, get enough sleep, and use your mind.

Know that your goals and dreams are important

Think big and write down lofty goals. The sky is the limit. Break them down into smaller pieces and feel good about every accomplishment along the way. The goals and dreams you have are just what the world needs. Don’t back down. Don’t give up. Love yourself enough to keep going.

Find your inner peace

When things get hard and you start to question your worth or doubt yourself, find your inner peace. Meditate, breathe, walk in nature, or do whatever feels good to bring your mind back to love.

Let yourself have feelings

Let yourself feel. Don’t judge the feelings; just let them play out. Don’t beat yourself up for feeling bad, sad, angry, or mad. Just acknowledge the feelings and move on. Do not project them on others.

Invest in yourself

Value yourself and keep yourself maintained. Invest in courses to keep your mind active, join a gym, eat good food, and hire services to make you feel beautiful. Make yourself a priority!

“Love is the great miracle cure. Loving ourselves works miracles in our lives.” ― Louise L. Hay

To love yourself first, you may need to create some new habits. Here are a few ideas!

• Look at yourself every day and compliment yourself.
• Find a spiritual outlet. Go to church weekly, read the bible, meditate, or listen to Christian music.
• Hang out with positive people. Surround yourself with people who love your authentic self. Don’t try to please others by changing who you are. If you have to do that, be with other people.
• Use your Journal every day. Write down what you are grateful for, what you love about yourself, or your daily intentions. Use these journal prompts.

What will I do today to take care of myself? What activities make me feel alive and balanced? How can I share my talents and experiences with the world?

• Be aware of your gossip and judgment of others. Focus on loving yourself first.
• Do things that make you feel good.
• Wish joy and happiness to everyone.
• Treat yourself well. Find time to pamper yourself and practice self care.

Related Posts: 8 Habits To Help You Make The Most of Your Life and Love Yourself-Stop Worrying About What I Look Like

Loving yourself can be hard, but it is the most important thing you can do. There is no one more worthy of love than you!

(You can print a copy of this PDF in my Resource Library!)

Other Posts You Might Enjoy:

How to Set Priorities for a More Focused Life

9 Quotes and Tips for Creating Healthy Habits

Self Care Quotes to Remind You to Love Yourself