Self-love. Let’s check in, Shall We?

What is self-love? 🤍

Is it something you can obtain through a beauty makeover or a new set of clothes? Can you get more of it by reading something inspirational? Or, can a new relationship make you love yourself more?

No.  Although those things may feel good and are gratifying, you can't grow in self-love through these types of activities.

Self-love is not simply a state of feeling good. It is a state of appreciation for oneself that flourishes from actions that support our physical, psychological and spiritual growth. Self-love is dynamic; we begin to accept much better our weaknesses as well as our strengths and have compassion for ourselves as human beings.

5-Step Prescription for Self-Love

1.   Become mindful. People who have more self-love are mindful of who they are and act on this knowledge, rather than on what others want for them.

2.   Act on what you need rather than what you 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.

3.   Practice good self-care. People high in self-love nourish themselves daily through healthy activities, like sound nutrition, exercise, proper sleep, intimacy and healthy social interactions.

4.    Set boundaries. You'll love yourself more when you set limits or say no to work, love, or activities that deplete or harm you physically, emotionally and spiritually, or express poorly who you are.

5. Forgive yourself. You have to accept your humanness (the fact that you are not perfect), before you can truly love yourself. Remember, there are no failures, if you have learned and grown from your mistakes; there are only lessons learned.

If you choose just one or two of these self-love actions to work on, you will begin to accept and love yourself more - just imagine how much you'll appreciate you when you exercise them all! 😊

-- Nyambura Mbugua