With Valentine’s Day right around the corner to remind us to “spread the love,” it’s essential to self-prioritize. While you may have lots of love to give your friends, family members, and special someone(s), loving yourself may not come so effortlessly.
Can we learn to love ourselves? It may sound strange to put forth such an effort, but self-love may be the most meaningful kind of love. Looking inward and realizing and appreciating what makes you unique will be the catalyst for a connection that can only come from within.
Stick to the task until it comes second nature. It is never too late to start, and there’s no limit. Boost your self-worth and self-esteem as you treat yourself to the love you deserve.
1. Forgive Yourself
We’re taught to forgive others for their missteps and misbehavior, but do you give yourself the same grace? Self-compassion goes hand-in-hand with self-respect; when we respect ourselves, we realize our worth. We are all human; we lack perfection at any level. We can improve, advance, and evolve as we live and learn.
What won’t help is beating ourselves up for our blunders, intentional or unintended. You deserve the same second chances everyone else does, with a conscious release of merciless self-blame and disappointment.
Appreciate what you’ve done (or haven’t done), experienced, felt, failed at, or conveyed for what it was. If you want to improve, you need to give yourself room to grow. Forgiveness is the future of self-love; it is faith in your potential and that your past doesn’t define you.
2. Recognize and Accept How You Feel
Self-love doesn’t necessarily mean feeling terrific all the time. It is more about recognizing your feelings, accepting them, and reacting responsibly. If you’re angry, that’s okay. Allow yourself the space and sensitivity to process why you feel that way, what it means, and what you can do about it. Sadness isn’t a setback or a sign of weakness. It is a natural feeling you are supposed to have, and you can find a solution with self-love.
Like you might console a friend who feels down or defeated, treat yourself with the same tenderness. Feel your feelings, think them through, and work them out. You don’t have to hide your humanity to feign happiness. True contentment will come from facing your emotions head-on, healing, and reminding yourself that you will be there for yourself the next time you need the same kind of support.
3. Take Good Care of Yourself
Self-care is the cornerstone of self-love. Physical, psychological, and spiritual self-care helps form a well-balanced, healthy individual with the fortitude and fitness to thrive.
Prioritize exercise and eat nutritiously. Listen to your body for when it needs rest. Keep yourself clean and safe. Take the alone time you need but also maintain social and intimate connections.
Know what is important to you and what you can do to incorporate more of it into your life. You can set guilt-free boundaries with others to give yourself more time for self-care. Think about how you might treat someone you love sincerely and apply those actions to yourself. Your needs and desires are valuable and worthy of the same level of attention.
Your priorities will be different from someone else’s. Embrace your purpose and have gratitude for all that is good. Stand up for yourself, stick to your principles, and share the love you have for yourself with others. Learning to love yourself is a lifelong blessing. Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or any old day, love is always in the air, so breathe it in deeply.
Beachside Rehab in West Palm Beach, Florida, offers a range of mental health services, inpatient and outpatient detox, drug and alcohol rehab, and holistic recovery. Call 866-349-1770 to speak with one of our trained admissions counselors.