They say to fill your cup first so that you can give from a place of abundance. This is exactly what self-love is. How can you love others if you don't love yourself?

WHERE TO START?

To love yourself, you need to know that you are special and that you deserve everything you've ever wanted and more.

Your failures, your income or your body, your complexion, your ability to do anything doesn't define who you are.

HOW CAN YOU PUT ALL OF THIS TO WORK?

1. Silence your inner critic. Whenever you hear your inner critic saying you can't do it, you are not good enough, you are ugly etc, learn to silence it. Or try not to hear that voice. Don't give a damn about it.
2. Whenever you find yourself happy, try to write things down that make you feel proud about yourself. This can be a little reminder of what you are when you are low. Or when you need that boost of confidence.
3. Practice gratitude. Believe me, practicing gratitude can change the way you think. It can make you happy and content.
4. Leave past to the past. Forgive yourself for the mistakes that you have done and move forward. You have many wonderful things to accomplish.
5. Every day take some time for yourself and do nothing. make yourself a cup of coffee and pour it into your favorite mug, light a candle and just be. Look around and appreciate what you have. You can do anything you love in your me-time.
6. Express yourself in whatever way you can. Paint, dance, sing, write. This can lighten up your mood and make you joyous.
7. Learn to say no. Saying no is a very important component of self-love where you put yourself first.
8. Move your body. Your body is like your home where you have to stay for a lifetime. Give it as much love as you can.
9. Nourishing yourself with good food is also very important.
10. Not every day is your day. Sometimes you feel low and unproductive and that's okay too because we are human. Take breaks and rejuvenate yourself. On those days you can treat yourself to that chocolate cake you were craving for a long time. Or watch your favorite show.
11. When you feel overwhelmed try to write everything in a notebook and you will get a lot of clarity about the situation you are in.
12. Read self-help books to always keep yourself motivated

Self-love is also doing the things that you were procrastinating about. Self-love is finding inspiration to complete that piece of your work, self love is feeling that accomplishment after you smash those goals and feeling proud of yourself.

Self-love can sometimes be giving up on that immediate pleasure in exchange for your future self.

When you are on those low unproductive periods in your life and suddenly you decide to come out of that and putting efforts to be yourself again is self-love.

I hope this article could be of some help if you are starting on the wonderful journey of self-love. I am feeling good already 🙂

             photo by Tim Mossholder from Pexeles