5 Ways to Practice Radical Self-Love Today
The most important relationship you’ll have is the one with yourself.
You hear this all the time, but it’s the truth. From the moment you arrived here until the moment you leave, you will always have you.
People tend to look for love and happiness in places outside of themselves. They find ways to cope and seek validation from others. But the kicker is that the person they’re looking for is there the whole time. I know it’s cheesy, but sometimes the cheesiest of truths are the ones people need to hear the most.
Practicing self-love is the most valuable thing you can do for yourself. Your relationship with yourself sets the tone for all the relationships in your life.
So let’s talk about what self-love means and 5 ways you can start your self-love journey today!
What is self-love?
Self-love has taken on many different meanings, but it comes down to 3 things:
Acceptance
Self-love means accepting who you are right now. Many of us come from families and communities that didn’t support us. They might have made us feel bad about ourselves, physically, emotionally, or mentally. But this doesn’t define who you are at all. Not even in the slightest.
When you accept yourself for who you were, who you are, and who you are becoming, there is no one else’s approval you need.
You validate yourself.
You compliment yourself.
You uplift yourself.
When you accept yourself, you are telling yourself you are perfect. There is nothing outside of you that can take away your power or complete you. This is self-love.
Compassion
Self-love includes compassion for yourself - which means showering yourself with warmth and comfort when it’s easy and most difficult.
When you face challenging times or feel like nothing is lining up the way you want, you self-soothe. Do whatever it takes to calm your mind, body, and soul, and forgive yourself.
Self-love is learning how to manage intense emotions and how to bring yourself back up. Showing yourself kindness and patience is practicing self-love in the purest way possible.
Respect
When you respect yourself, you know what’s serving you and what isn’t. You know when something or someone is worth your time. Respecting yourself is a foundational element of self-love because it indicates how you view your worth.
When you respect yourself, you take on opportunities that serve your highest good and walk away from situations that drain your energy. Sometimes what we view our worth as and what we’re actually worth gets mixed up.
Self-love is when you live your life from a place that respects your mind, body, and soul.
Acceptance, compassion, and respect are the foundational pieces of self-love. Once you master these three elements, you’re already showing yourself, love, in the best ways.
Here are 5 ways to start putting those self-love basics into action today:
Setting Boundaries
Setting boundaries are the limits you place on other people’s behaviors towards you. It tells people what you will allow and won't allow. When you set boundaries with friends, family, or your partner, you tell them how you wish to be treated.
Now, remember that part about respect? This is where it comes in!
Setting boundaries doesn’t mean pushing people away. It actually means you care about them and want them to remain in your life - but in ways that you find acceptable and respectful.
Know when to say no when you mean no - and that’s on knowing your worth!
Have integrity with yourself
Remember all those times you made a to-do list for the day with all those important tasks you needed to do but somehow found yourself crossing off none of them? It’s happened to all of us, so don’t worry.
When you do the things you say you’re going to do, you’re building a relationship of trust with yourself.
When you trust yourself, you know that you’ll always make the best decisions and that everything is working out in your/ favor. You trust that your life will be more than exceptional. If you can’t trust yourself, who are you going to trust?
Celebrate your wins
Whether you took a shower this morning or finished that huge project, you’ve been working on for months, celebrate everything. Every day you are getting better and better, and you’re learning from the day before. Everything you do is a step closer to your larger life dreams.
Nothing you do goes unnoticed, and nothing should be written off as “simple.”
Because you emptied the trash, you have a clean home.
Because you went to the gym even though you didn’t feel like it, you’re staying healthy and relieving stress.
Because you sent an email pitch to a brand you want to work with, you are stepping out of your comfort zone.
There are so many things you do daily that you can celebrate. Your life is one to celebrate!
Talk to yourself with kindness
Here’s the rule: if you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself. Your words are more powerful than you think. And how you speak to yourself is as important as how you talk to other people.
I know that talking to yourself can be one of the hardest things to do; after all, we’re our own worst critics. But I’m telling you right now - your life will become 100% easier once you go easier on yourself.
Don’t take things personally
This one might be the secret sauce to life. When people are mean to you or say something critical attacking your character, they are projecting. This means that they see something in you that they like and don’t currently have, so they think they’ll feel better if they bring you down.
Because well...misery loves company.
So when people try to bring you down, know that it has everything to do with them and nothing to do with you. Not taking what people say to you as a personal attack frees up your mind and reduces worry, which is the biggest joy-killer!
Self-love takes time, effort, and consistency.
These are 5 actions you can start taking today that will help you on your self-love journey. I’m not going to lie, some of them are hard, and take some time to add into your mindset habits. But I’m telling you it’s SO worth it.
When you practice self-love, you don’t need anything from anyone. You are all you need, now and forever. Acceptance, compassion, and respect are the self-love basics. If you incorporate the 5 actions listed above, you will be the most powerful person you’ve met.
Love,
Sangeetha