What is Self-Love?
“Put yourself at the top of your to-do list every single day and the rest will fall into place.” – Anonymous
Self-love is usually defined as a state of appreciation for oneself that grows from actions that guide our spiritual, physical, and psychological growth. Self-love means having high regard for your personal well-being and happiness. It means putting your very own wishes first and no longer sacrificing your well-being to please or pamper others. Self-love definitely shows each person that we should not settle for less than what we deserve.
Why is Self-love important?
For people who always put others’ priorities first, self-love rarely comes into their mind. Individuals have their own way of showing love for themselves. For breadwinners, it is especially hard to put their own wishes high in their priority list. They always have it in their nature to prioritize what their family and loved ones need over what they need. The lack of self-love may lead to burnout, piled up stress, regret, sadness, depression, anxiety, anger, shame or guilt.
Life has no do-overs, hence, living your best life or living your life to the fullest is a must. For selfless people, self-love may be hard to achieve at first and may take some time for them to be fully used to it. Here are some things you can do to kickstart your self-love journey and become a better YOU:
● Prioritizing yourself
● Trusting yourself
● Talking to and about yourself with love
● Being true to yourself
● Giving yourself a break from self-judgment
● Setting healthy boundaries
● Forgiving yourself when you aren’t being true or nice to yourself
● Being nicer to yourself
● Not restraining yourself to have a breather, to travel and unwind
Journal for Self Love
Writing in a journal can be a great start to help us gain self-awareness about anything, including having positive feelings for ourselves. Starting a self-love journal is a reminder for us to always look after ourselves much better than we did before.
Self Love Quotes
Here are some quotes about self-love:
“I am my own experiment. I am my own work of art.”
—Madonna
“To find a happy ending with someone else, first you have to find it alone.”
—Soman Chainani
“How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you.”
—Rupi Kaur
“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”
—Oscar Wilde
“If you have the ability to love, love yourself first.”
—Charles Bukowski
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
—Anne Lamott
“Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.”
—Mark Twain
“I now see how owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.”
—Brené Brown
“All relationships are a reflection of your relationship with yourself.”
—Deepak Chopra
“Your self-worth is determined by you. You don’t have to depend on someone telling you who you are.”
—Beyoncé
“Find the love you seek, by first finding the love within yourself. Learn to rest in that place within you that is your true home.”
― Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
“You were born an original work of art. Stay original always. Originals cost more than imitations.”
― Suzy Kassem
“Don’t let hollow heroes distract you from saving yourself.”
― Nikki Rowe
“Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.”
– Malcolm S. Forbes
“The journey isn’t about becoming a different person. It’s about loving who you are right now.”
– Suzanne Heyn
“When I loved myself enough, I began leaving whatever wasn’t healthy. This meant people, jobs, my own beliefs and habits – anything that kept me small. My judgment called it disloyal. Now I see it as self-loving.”
– Kim McMillen
“To accept ourselves as we are means to value our imperfections as much as our perfections.”
– Sandra Bierig
“Be the love you never received.”
– Rune Lazuli
“Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.”
– Veronica A. Shoffstall
“There are days I drop words of comfort on myself like falling leaves and remember that it is enough to be taken care of by myself.”
– Brian Andreas
“Accept yourself, love yourself, and keep moving forward. If you want to fly, you have to give up what weighs you down.”
– Roy T. Bennett
“Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.”
– Anna Taylor
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
– Buddha
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”
– Dale Carnegie
“We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.”
– Mary Dunba
It’s high time we put ourselves first in all aspects such as looking after our own well-being – spiritually, psychologically, physically, and emotionally. Self-love is a choice which does not signify narcissism or selfishness. We are entitled to practice self-love in any way we can for our sake and the sake of everyone who cares about us. Loving yourself allows you to become a much better version of yourself. The power of self-love does not only empower oneself but creates a ripple effect towards people who wish to evolve and start a journey towards becoming their best selves.