Self-love. I’m sure you’ve heard the term by now. There are plenty of songs about it, it’s talked about in bunches of TV shows, you can buy journals to try and achieve it, but what exactly is it? What is self-love?
Self-love means something different from person to person. Everyone’s definition and how they practice it won’t be the same. But having self-love means that you accept yourself fully, treat yourself with kindness and respect, and nurture your growth and wellbeing.
Self-love is important because it’s the foundation that allows us to be assertive, set boundaries and create healthy relationships with others, practice self-care, pursue our interests and goals, and feel proud of who we are.
Practicing self-love can be challenging for many of us, especially in times when we face serious challenges. Many people question whether self-love is really necessary or believe that it’s narcissistic or selfish to have self-love. But having self-love doesn’t make you narcissistic, having self-love allows you to get in touch with yourself, your well-being, and your happiness. People who love themselves in a healthy way know that they are flawed and make mistakes and they accept and care about themselves despite their imperfections. We practice self-love so we can push through our limiting beliefs and live a life that is inspired.
Like most things in life, self-love is a journey. There have definitely been times in my life where I have not had self-love. But as I grew older I worked on my relationship with myself and have grown to love every bit of myself, no matter what parts might be stubborn or annoying at times.
So whether you’re a self-love newbie or a love yourself veteran, how can you practice it daily? Let’s look at these three ways:
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Create a self-love ritual.
This will look different for everyone. Maybe it means telling yourself positive affirmations each morning as you look at yourself in the mirror. Maybe it means turning off the tv after a long day and giving yourself a massage for 15 minutes. Maybe it’s a nice soak in the bath. Maybe it’s sitting in silence and going through what you’re grateful for. Create a routine that allows you to think about yourself, process where you are at, and injects positivity. -
Prioritize your health and wellbeing.
Treat your body like the loving vessel that it is. It will boost not only your self-love but also your energy. Be intentional about what you put into your body, not because you want to look good but because you want to feel good too. And don’t just stop there. Give your body the movement that it needs. Staying stagnant for too long can cause energy to become blocked, becoming a constant feedback loop of negativity. Do whatever makes your body feel good and get the positive energy flowing through your veins! -
Learn how to let go.
We constantly hold onto things from our past, which can weigh heavy on our souls and lead to low self-esteem. The more blocks we clear, the more we grow into loving ourselves unconditionally. Although we may often hold onto our past selves as a way to protect ourselves or to act as a safety net, it’s really only holding us back from reaching our true radiance and learning to love ourselves.
All of these ways to practice self-love can be extremely difficult when you’re in a toxic environment. Toxic environments can be a result of anything from an unhealthy relationship or negative work environment to self-esteem issues or a lack of self-care. Whatever the cause, toxicity is hard to live with.
If you find yourself living, working, or associating with a place that causes harm to your health, happiness, and wellbeing, it’s time to get out – and fast. Over time those negative feelings you can get from those places can build up, and that’s not good for anyone.
So how do you get out of a toxic environment?? The answer will depend on your situation and where the root of the problem lies.
If the toxic environment is external, like a bad relationship or workplace, you may be able to remove yourself from the situation, meaning quit the job or break up with the partner.
If the toxic environment is being created through your own behavior, you’ll have some work to do on your own or with some sort of guide, therapist, or mentor.
If the toxic environment is literally environmental, you may need to cleanse your home of negative energy. Removing clutter, letting more light inside, using essential oils, rearranging or redecorating, burning sage, and a good cleaning can help!
I know all of this can sound daunting. And learning to love yourself is definitely no easy task. One thing that can often help is to develop a routine that allows you to prioritize your physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing, and the rest will fall into place. If that structure sounds appealing to you, let my LiveYinsa Monthly Membership program be your self-love guide. For $33.00, the monthly membership includes:
🌟 2 Workshops a Month
🌟 Yin yoga class every new moon and full moon
🌟 Weekly Journal Prompts
🌟 Weekly Meditations
🌟 Discount off Yinsa Skincare Products
There are the perfect amount of grounding workshops and meditations to focus on your thoughts, yoga to move your body and get your chi flowing, skincare to treat yourself, and journal prompts to track your progress. What are you waiting for? If you’re ready to dive in, join me here!
