7 Easy Ways to Start Loving Yourself More

Self-love is something that a lot of people talk about but don't quite know how to go about it. It can be hard to love ourselves when we're constantly putting ourselves down or comparing ourselves to others. You might be your own worst critic, and it seems like you can never do anything right in your eyes. But that's not healthy, and it's definitely not going to help you feel better about yourself. There are ways to start loving yourself more – and it's worth it! Here are seven ways to help you get started.

1. Get to Know Yourself

How exactly do you know who you are? Do you know what you love or what makes you happy? It is impossible to love yourself if you do not know who you are. You will need to find out what you believe in, value, and like, and identify your strengths. Getting to know yourself means that you have to be honest with yourself, and you need to start identifying different insecurities that you may be having. True love means honesty and responsibility, and therefore, you should work on self-awareness and minimize excuses. This brings you to the place of acceptance of who you are, which will start you on your journey to love yourself better.

1. Talk to Yourself as a Child

The constant inner dialogue that you have can either contribute to self-love or self-hate. The way you think or talk to yourself or see the world may not necessarily be who you are, and it means it can be adjusted. One of the best ways you can change how you see yourself is by changing your inner dialogue. Be kind to yourself and feel more optimistic by trying to talk to yourself like a child. The chances are that you will be more compassionate, more forgiving, and loving when you see yourself as a child rather than as an adult. 

1. Forgive Yourself for Past Mistakes

One of the major setbacks of self-love is holding onto things we probably have done in the past. It could be an embarrassing moment that probably haunts you, or it was a serious mistake that you still allow to define you. Some of these include cheating in a relationship, getting fired from a job, or any other embarrassing moment during your childhood. You might be holding onto these incidences of mistakes made as evidence that you are not lovable. Instead, you should look at how you have improved and grown since those past mistakes and realize that you have become stronger, kinder, and better because of those mistakes. You need to see yourself as a growing human but not as a compilation of your past errors or mistakes. Forgive yourself for your mistakes. We all make them, so learn from them and move on. 

1. Treat Yourself like You Treat Loved Ones

The most vital relationship in your life is that you have with yourself. Why don't you nurture that relationship the same way you would nurture a relationship with your best friend or even your significant other? Self-love can come in simple ways as using your love language to love yourself. You can list all the ways that you treat the people you love and do that to yourself. For instance, you can give compliments to yourself, treat yourself regularly with a gift or look in the mirror and say good night before you go to sleep. This might seem silly at first, but it is indeed a very important step towards treating yourself better.

1. Say 'No' When You Mean No

When you set boundaries, you let other people know that you expect respect. Besides that, it lets you know that you deserve respect. When you say no, you put your needs above others when you mean no. For example, when your coworker asks for help when you are already swamped, saying no means that you will be looking out for yourself first. Sometimes, your neighbors might need a favor when you are exhausted, or you may have to say no when you are uncomfortable attending a holiday event. Whenever you say yes when you want to say no, you put other people's opinions and needs above your own, which brings out the idea that you are not a priority.

1. Enjoy Life, Play More

When was the last time you did something just for fun? How do you spend your free time whenever you are alone? Lack of self-love might be that you are taking life too seriously. You may want to incorporate some regular playtime by engaging in dancing, doing something creative like coloring, or even going to a jungle gym. If you find it difficult to play because it may seem silly, you have even a better reason to do it.

1. Keep Promises to Yourself

Remember that self-love is not conditional, and it is a skill that you achieve with patience and practice. For you to build confidence, you have to trust your word. When you say that you will do something, make sure that you do it. For example, if you tell yourself that you're going to cook dinner, make a point of doing it and don't call for take-out food. This also applies to waking up for that morning workout and not going back to your ex. Following through with what you said you would do is more than just achieving what you wanted, it builds confidence and self-trust, which is self-love.

Final Take Away

Are you finding it difficult to love yourself? Loving yourself is the first step towards ensuring that you get fulfillment in life, and therefore, by focusing on the tips we have discussed above, you can start loving yourself more. You want to make important steps towards ensuring that you improve your relationship with yourself. Don't wait for someone to love you for you to be able to know the worth of loving yourself.