Learning to Love Yourself

Have you ever considered how much your life would change if you love yourself like your parent, best friend, significant other loves you? Try one of these tips for a week and see if there is any difference.

1. Affirmations. Our minds are malleable. Typically our self-concepts and beliefs are shaped by early life experiences. As we get older we have the opportunity to revamp our ways of seeing ourselves and the world. Affirmations are the action of affirming something. Self-affirmations are like making declarations to ourselves. Whatever we place behind the words “I am” is powerful. Louise Hay is the mother of mirror affirmations. In her book, You Can Heal Your Life she suggests reciting “ I love and approve myself” 300-400 times. I know… I know, it sounds crazy, or at least that’s what I thought when I first heard the prescription. However, considering we have on average 60,000 thoughts a day and the majority of those thoughts are the same negative thoughts, what she is suggesting is to help us to retrain ourselves and tip the scales in our own favor.

2. Journaling. When we write things down it helps us to process different experiences and emotions in a new way. Journaling can feel like an obligation when we place restrictions on it such as having to journal daily. I like to suggest clients journal as needed. That means if you’re feeling great and want to amplify that mood you can journal about all things you’re grateful for. If you’re feeling down you can journal to get it all out of you and on paper. Give journaling as needed a shot. I think the most helpful thing I’ve done for myself is to journal in the morning setting intentions for the day before getting on my phone and social media.

3. Quality time with yourself. I used to think it was so sad when I would go out and see people out in public alone. It made me think they were lonely and sad. The older I get the more I realize how necessary it is to intentionally spend time alone, in and outside of the house. It was really weird the first time I took myself to my first movie alone. I watched Maleficent at the Fiesta Station Casino Theatre. It was after a long hot day working in the sun. I spent all day sweating and speaking to people. All I wanted was to be silent and get my mind off things of a bit. Consider taking yourself on a date. See what it’s like to be with yourself. Bet it makes a difference.

I hope my blogs are a helpful source of information. That they might help you to find comfort and solace in knowing that you’re not alone. That you matter and someone’s thinking about you. Submit blog topics and questions you'd like me to address here and subscribe below to stay updated. Until next time my friend.