You can talk about self-love all you want. But what matters is if you truly put effort into loving yourself.
So many people never practice what they preach, especially when it comes to self-love. You hear it all the time — you have to practice self-love to be happy. You can’t possibly bring positive energy if you’re constantly surrounded by negativity all the time. It’s a sad concept, but it rings true. The sadder thing is that not many get to practice self-love because they’re afraid of the consequences of putting themselves first.
But let me reiterate. You can’t make others happy if you’re not happy. In a way, putting yourself first is taking care of other people. If the people you love don’t understand that, maybe it’s time to reevaluate your relationship with them.
Once you understand that you need to put yourself first, the next step is to practice what you preach. Every person or article says “Think positive!” or “Tackle the new day with an optimistic mind!” But they don’t tell you how to do so. How do you think more positive? Do you just sit there staring boldly at words and strain your mind into a headache? And how can you think more optimistically if the situation is keeping you down?
It’s all about the little things you do that condition your mind into more positive territory.
Loving yourself is key to a happy lifestyle. So here are five ways you can really practice self-love.
1. Understand that being selfish is not always a bad thing.
The term “selfish” often has a bad reputation among many people. However, what you need to understand is that being selfish and putting yourself first is not bad at all. How can you possibly take care of others and uplift them if you’re not happy yourself? The answer is simple — you can’t. You need a good, happy, and strong foundation before you can think of others.
Know that it’s OK to eat the last piece of cake in the fridge. You don’t have to share everything with anyone. Say “no” if you don’t want to drive someone to the airport or stop by the grocery store after a long day of work to buy snacks. Remember that a favor is a request, not a demand.
2. Wear what you like and embrace your style.
More often than not, I overhear people judging their friends, family members, or even strangers for their choices in clothes or hairstyle. You shouldn’t feel ashamed of trying new fashion pieces or changing up your hair. Likewise, you don’t have to follow fashion trends if you don’t want to. Wear whatever you want, and be your most authentic and comfortable self.
If you’ve been thinking about dying your hair mint green or lavender, go for it! Are you into older fashion trends instead of newer ones? Embrace it! Don’t let anyone tell you how you should look to fit into “normal.”
3. Treat yo’ self.
Forget about treating other people for once — learn to treat yourself.
If you’ve been eyeing a handbag for the last week, get it! Clean out your closet and do some online shopping for new clothes. Don’t hesitate to order a dozen cupcakes for a weekend you plan on staying in. Remember to buy yourself flowers because you truly deserve them. Sometimes you need to splurge on yourself.
4. Stop comparing yourself to others.
The age of technology brings us a lot of useful devices like cell phones, wireless headphones, and social media. Social media is awesome for bringing millions of people together, but it also creates false standards about how a person or their life should look like. You don’t need to vacation in Mexico for one week and Japan the next to have a fulfilling life.
Learn to let go of jealousy and stop comparing yourself to other people. Things posted on social media are usually exaggerated for views, and no one posts the boring or negative aspects of their life. Instead of comparing your body to Instagram models, focus on your good qualities and traits. Yeah, your legs may not be as toned, but you have a great head of silky hair to boast about and a great sense of humor.
5. Set aside a day for yourself.
It’s good to just dedicate a day to yourself to detox and relax in whatever way you see fit.
Get started on a book you’ve been meaning to read or try out a latte at a new cafe. Do the things you like and surround yourself with people who make you happy. And don’t feel bad for turning down plans to spend time with yourself!
Originally written by Amy Le on YourTango
Featured image via Candice Picard on Unsplash
