Loving yourself is the single most powerful thing that you can do, and it is something that is so often neglected. We are so good at showing compassion, care, and love for others, but most of us find it difficult to do the same for ourselves.
We feel guilty or selfish for any positive focus we put on ourselves and end up dwelling on any faults and insecurities that we think we have. Repeat after me: self-love is not selfish. We often think that loving ourselves means we don’t have as much love to give out to those we care about. However, love is limitless and exponential. When you learn to love yourself, you are able to love others better and more deeply as well.
Here are 5 easy steps you can take to love yourself a little more every day:
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Smile
Smiling is one of the most powerful tools that we possess. Its main purpose is to show happiness and satisfaction, and each smile offers an incredible release of positive energy. When we smile at others, it’s contagious. It might seem counterintuitive to smile at others when you are trying to love yourself, but the two are deeply connected. When we smile at others, we create a ripple of positivity throughout humanity. Those that we smile at will smile at others and at themselves and that energy will reverberate back to you. When you smile at someone, you are acknowledging their emotional life and making them feel genuinely welcome, supported, and appreciated. We can also practice smiling at ourselves in a mirror. This falls under the old adage “fake it until you make it.” By smiling, we release positive chemicals in our brains that activate our innate happiness. The act of smiling releases positive energy while we simultaneously receive this energy bounced off our reflection.
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Compliment Yourself
When was the last time you told yourself you’re beautiful? When was the last time you let yourself know how amazing you are? When was the last time you thought of yourself in a positive way? People often spend so much time focusing on others, that they forget to recognize and compliment themselves. Challenge yourself to write down one thing you love about yourself every day. After one year, you will know 365 things that make you the incredible person that you are. The first few days might be difficult for you depending on how much or how little love you have shown yourself in the past few years. However, don’t worry or get discouraged. As with most things, the more you practice, the easier it will become. By complimenting yourself, you experience a boost of energy and positivity. You can also write yourself a letter appreciating and acknowledging the effort it has taken to get to where you are now and the resiliency you exhibit in the face of obstacles. Once you acknowledge all you are grateful for with your body, you are surprised with the realization that you are worthy and enough just the way you are. By complimenting and loving yourself, you find your true self.
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Create and Recite a Mantra
A mantra is an impulse or rhythm of the consciousness. It is the repetition of a word or phrase that expresses a belief. Mantras create vibrations in the spirit that direct you to a more positive perspective and allow you to see the light during dark moments. Reciting a mantra helps to bring tranquility to your spirit and frees you from any worries, doubts, and stress that you may be facing. Mantras allow you to recenter yourself and live in harmony. Simple affirmations like “I am enough just as I am” or “I am worthy of love” can be profoundly powerful. Mantras are different than compliments in that compliments are a reflection of your innate being and traits whereas mantras are broader ideas of the energy you want to embody and the person you want to be. By saying them aloud, we channel the energy of the Universe to make use believe in the power of our own words. The more we recite mantras and affirmations, the more powerful they become. You spend most of your time with yourself and your inner tone and dialogue help shape how you feel about yourself. What you speak into the Universe will manifest before you.
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Turn Your Cellphone Off
We are often so wrapped up in our digital world that we begin to feel as though everything that we see virtually exists in reality. We begin to compare ourselves to others and we end up being overwhelmed with feelings of insecurity or jealousy. It’s important to remember that the photos and information we see online, don’t ever show the whole story. They are a romanticized version of the story, designed to show the user in a specific way. By creating specific times when we turn off our phones and devices, we learn to reengage with reality. We begin to see those around us in an unfiltered light and realize that no one that we idolize is any different than we are. We are all just human beings trying their best. By turning off our devices, we learn to reconnect with what it means to be a part of humanity. We begin to experience real relationships and our insecurities begin to fade away. If you want to love yourself more, step away from those things that trigger your self-doubt. Experience the clarity and self-love that arise when you take a break from your devices.
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Take a Moment for Self-Care
Self-care can take many forms, but what it ultimately amounts to is treating your body and mind with kindness. When you are kind to yourself from the inside out, amazing things happen. The aura around your being changes and the light you radiate becomes blinding. Each passing day, become more in tune with your body, listen to it speak, and honor its subtle requests. Things like hunger, fatigue, and sickness will happen. Learn not to push your body when it needs rest and relaxation. When you are feeling physically healthy, make sure to move your body. This can include things like yoga, running, walking, or any other type of exercise that you enjoy. When we move our bodies, we release endorphins and feel naturally uplifted as this hormone floods our brains and nervous systems. If you are feeling stressed, things like baths, face masks, and essential oils can bring you back into peace and harmony. The more in tune you become with your body, the more you learn what it needs, and the happier it becomes. We must be thankful for all that our bodies are capable of. As we learn to respect and honor them, we learn to love ourselves at our deepest level.
Self-love is vital for your soul and well-being. When you learn to love yourself, you gain self-confidence, self-worth, and a more positive outlook on life. You learn to embrace all that life has to offer and begin to radiate this energy outward towards everyone you meet. When you learn to love yourself, your love for others has no bounds. Self-love is an incredible spiritual journey that helps us live in harmony and discover our greatest blessings.
Please give this blog a heart if you enjoyed reading it and comment below what part/s resonated with you the most ?
Love & Blessings,
The Moon Omens Team
I will implement all of this into my life, today, and always!