The Importance of Self Love
For some patients, I notice that they have a hard time in loving themselves. I believe that self-love is a critical component of healing. However, it can be difficult to do in our society today. The message we get is that, “You are not good enough, but if you buy X, Y and Z, then it will make you worthy of love.”
But love has to come from within. You must love yourself. You can only give what you have. The more you love yourself, the more love that you can share with others.
During a flight takeoff, we are reminded to put on our own oxygen mask before applying the oxygen mask to another in the case of an emergency. Similarly, we need to practice loving ourselves as we love those around us.
Have you ever noticed that the hardest person to love is the one who doesn’t love themselves? A part of you may think that you are not worthy of love. But that is FALSE. You are more than worthy of love. Some of us may not have received enough love during our childhood, and NOW it’s time to reclaim it for ourselves.
We can learn to be a loving parent for ourselves. Love yourself as you are right now. All the flaws, imperfections, mistakes are who you are. Appreciate the things and experiences that make you unique and KNOW that there is no one like you on this planet Earth.
How Can you Bring More Self-Love into Your Life? Here are a Few Ways:
Mirror Work:
Look at the mirror. See yourself. Look into your own eyes and say out loud, “I love you.” Repeat this over and over, until it starts to feel weird or a smile creeps up.
Self-care:
Take time to work out, get a massage, a haircut, taking a break, get a full night of rest, say NO to people and things that don’t serve you, and anything else that sends a clear message of loving yourself.
Identifying Your Strengths:
Make a list of 5 things that you love about yourself. You have weaknesses and areas of improvement, as we all do, but you also have some awesome things about you.
Appreciate your Body:
Close your eyes and get comfortable. Send love to all of your organs. Visualize your heart, lungs, bones, pancreas, liver, kidneys, skin, back, neck, arms, legs, etc. and tell each body part, “I love you. I appreciate you. Thank you”.
Hugs:
Give yourself a hug right now. Fold your arms across your body and hug yourself right now. Embrace yourself tightly as if you were your own best friend.
Time Travel:
Imagine yourself as a baby or a toddler. Send that image of your younger self-love. Then imagine yourself as a 100-year-old. Send that older version of you to love.
Forgiveness:
Yes, we have all made mistakes. Forgive yourself for your errors. You are human and to make mistakes is a part of life. Take the lesson and move on. Have compassion for yourself.
Loving yourself is a habit. It may not come overnight. It’s going to take some practice, especially if you have years of practice of not loving yourself. Furthermore, we know that love is not only a feeling but an action. So ask yourself, “If I truly loved myself, what would I do next?”
Got your answer?
Well, what are you waiting for? DO IT!
Here is a quote for you to ponder as you explore self-love:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ~Marianne Williamson