The Power of Self-Love: A guide to wellness
By Isabella Boston
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
What is Self-Love?
Self-love is having a deep love and appreciation for yourself. It strengthens and nurtures your overall being: mind, body, and soul. It means having self-respect and never accepting less than you deserve. Self-love means paying attention to your own needs and not sacrificing your own happiness and well-being for the sake of others.
Loving yourself means accepting everything about you, flaws and all, and not apologizing for who you are in this world. It means not allowing others, or anything else for that matter, to define you, because you do that all on your own.
Having self-love means setting healthy boundaries for yourself in all your relationships: romantic, business, personal, and family. It’s taking care of yourself through a healthy diet, positive self-talk, and exercise. It means having a healthy mind and a positive attitude. When you practice self-love, you walk in confidence knowing that nothing in this world can slow you down or stop you from your sacred calling and purpose in life.
Self-love means living a life of integrity and never compromising who you are for anything or anyone. It means to always stand in your own truth and to be your authentic self at all times.
Self-love is power. It protects you from harm and from the selfish control, manipulation, and evils of this world.
Love yourself so much that when somebody treats you wrong, you recognize it.” ~ Rena Rose
Ways to Practice Self-love:
Only speak about yourself with love - Turn every negative statement into a positive one: "You are so stupid!" into "You made a mistake. It's okay because you tried your best and you learned from it. Next time you will do better!"
Learn to forgive yourself for past mistakes - Forgiveness is not just for the other person, it's also for us. When we forgive ourselves, we are also freeing ourselves from the burden of shame and guilt so we can live a happier and more meaningful life.
Trust yourself - You know more than you think you do. Do not be afraid to make tough decisions or to take risk. Step outside your comfort zone or else you will never know just how great you really are!
Prioritize your time and self-care - Your time for yourself is critical to your overall health and wellbeing. Go for a walk in nature, practice a new hobby, take a nap, or just simply enjoy time alone. Make time for yourself and do not let anyone distract you.
Be nice to yourself - Don't be so hard on yourself. Be patient with yourself from where you are on your journey and know that you are doing the best you can. Each second, minute, and day brings you closer to reaching and achieving your goals.
Set healthy boundaries and make others respect them - It's okay to say 'no'! You do not owe anyone an explanation when it comes to your wellbeing. It is your responsibility to protect your mind, your body, and your spirit at all times. Anyone who does not respect your boundaries, does not care about you and is only thinking of themselves.
Exercise and eat well - Your body is a sacred temple that houses your soul. Eating right and exercising daily will not only keep you physically healthy but will keep you mentally and spiritually healthy as well.
Get plenty of sleep - Getting at least seven hours of sleep each night will reduce stress and lower your risk for serious health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.
Live in the moment (stop and smell the roses!) - Focus on the now. Pay attention to the small things in life and learn to appreciate them. Be grateful for what you have now and perform random acts of kindness.
Always have a grateful heart and count your blessings - Having a grateful heart brings more positive emotions and good experiences. It improves your health and helps you to deal with adversity. It also connects us better to others and builds stronger relationships. A good way to practice having a grateful heart is to keep a journal and write down everything you are grateful for every day.
Surround yourself with positive people - "If you hang out with chickens, you are going to cluck and if you hang out with eagles you're going to fly!" ~ Dr. Steven Maraboli. Be careful who you keep company with. Do the people you hang with add value to your life? Or are they just energy suckers? Positive people appreciate the good things in life and do not focus on the negative. They have goals and want to be successful, and they encourage you to do the same. They celebrate your victories and help you to always move forward. Positive people send positive vibes that inspire you to be at your best and to feel good about yourself in all that you do!
When you practice self-love, you hold yourself in high-esteem and are more likely to make better life decisions for yourself that can serve you well.
For some of us, self-love does not come easy. We have been deeply hurt and scarred by the traumatic experiences of our past. We may suffer from low self-esteem or from insecurities. In these situations, finding self-love might seem difficult, but with daily practice and patience, we can succeed in obtaining it.
I challenge you to start practicing self-love today by being more compassionate, kind, and patient with yourself. Self-love is not selfish! You are worthy of love. When we love ourselves first, we can also love and help others who are also struggling with self-love.
"You are fearfully and wonderfully made!" ~ Psalm 139: 13-15
Author Bio
Isabella Boston
Isabella Boston is a multi-talented writer and the founder of Bella’s Attic Studio. She has several years of experience in content writing, copywriting, and social media strategies. She is a diarist and the author of Passion of Flames. Isabella has special interests in fashion and beauty, health and wellness, and natural healing as it pertains the body, mind, and soul. When she is not writing, Isabella enjoys playing the violin, learning new languages, and reading books of substance.
