With St Valentine's day looming, it seems that love is all around us. However when it comes to love, we tend to think about giving it to those around us or to our material goods, rather than to ourselves. We are not taught to love ourselves - quite the opposite, we are taught to compete against each other, and to bring ourselves down.
Here are 12 easy tips to bring some new self-love into your life:
Here are 12 easy tips to bring some new self-love into your life:
- Commit yourself to your growth: The biggest, boldest and brightest act of self-love you can do this Valentine's is to start your very own personal journey. Make the decision right now to give yourself what you deserve and to be the best version of yourself. Set your intention to give life your best shot, and to achieve your full potential on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. Commit to learning and growing every single day, with every action, every encounter, every experience. And focus on increasing your awareness and understanding of your body, your mind, your emotions and your behaviours - both past and present.
- Find respect and compassion for yourself: By comparing ourselves to others or to the ideal versions of ourselves, many of us are disappointed - and subconsciously decide to punish ourselves in return. As a result, we abuse ourselves, mentally or physically. We beat ourselves up, we make unhealthy choices, we that .... It's time to stop! Start to make choices that nurture your mind, your body, and your spirit. Respect your own free will and learn to say NO to actions or experiences that could be detrimental to your wellbeing. And don't be too harsh on yourself; we all make mistakes - its a part of the learning process. Be compassionate and loving instead: treat yourself as if you were your best friend, and your body as if it were your pet.
- Accept. Forgive. Be grateful: These 3 actions are in fact the key to happiness. The harder they seem, the bigger the potential change. Practice them everyday, starting with yourself, and extending of course to others. Accept your body, your mind, and your emotions as they are at each moment. Accept difficult situations and challenges as if you created them on purpose. Forgive yourself and others easily: studies have shown that hidden resentment, anger or negative emotions are physically toxic for the body. And be grateful everyday for everything and everyone in your life, focusing above all on the non-material things around you.
- Surround yourself with amazing people: Being with people with whom you do not connect with can become very isolating and lonely. Great friends will support you in all your endaveours, and be there for you if the going gets tough. Spend lots of time with the ones that help you feel supported, loved and cared for - and less time with the ones that drain your energy and kill your good intentions.
- Eat well: eating the correct foods for your body will keep you fighting fit, fend of many illnesses and get you trim and toned. Educate yourself to understand what to eat, and see food as a way to nurture your body and your mind. You will feel happier, more satisfied, and see a huge boost in your energy and your mood.
- Exercise: Show your body some love: it is designed to move, so you need to give it the opportunity to do so. The simple act of exercising and moving should be a natural pleasure, and will help you feel positive and upbeat. Keep your energy high and your spirits up by exercising in the morning, and keep the momentum going throughout the day.
- Get some sleep: your mind and body need rest to function optimally. Between 6-7 hours should be enough. Notice whether you wake up naturally before your alarm and adjust your bed time accordingly. Oversleeping by even 30mins can make you feel drowsy and groggy.
- Meditate: there are many studies on the power of meditation. It's benefits include better circulation and blood pressure, reduction in stress, and pain decrease. However you will also learn to control your thoughts, increase your focus and be able to deal with anxiety and insecurity. And you will learn a lot about yourself in the process!
- Be creative: we all have our own unique gifts, talents and awesome characteristics. Many of us block them out however, through fear and doubt. By nurturing your artistic and creative self, you will feel energized and vibrant. Find something you love doing; from dancing to painting via creating your own business or writing - and practice it often !
- Get intimate: human interaction, touch and intimacy are natural instincts. When done with the right intention, with the right people and in the right way, they can truly deepen your experience of life. Practice switching off your mind, and using your senses: enjoy the feel of your skin, of your body, and of your movements. If with a partner, practice non-verbal communication: through sensing and feeling. Great intimacy does not have to be sexual - but it will leave you feeling deeply energized.
- Create disciplined habits: We are like trees. The only way we can grow, expand, and achieve our full potential is by creating deep roots for ourselves. It is very important to ground yourself in a daily or weekly routine that will help you feel secure and stable. Think about creating a disciplined approach in all areas of your life, from your health and eating habits, to the way you manage your finances and your daily tasks.
- Indulge once in a while: If you are discipled most of the time, you will be able to truly enjoy the times that you let loose. And by enjoy, I mean REALLY enjoy! Take your time, and savor the moment, the taste, the experience. Life is all about the small pleasures.
- Will Pike - 13th February 2013
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