4 Ways to Practice Self-Love and Appreciation
Everywhere you look you’ll find a card, gift, or bouquet of flowers marketed to help you show love to that special someone in your life. And while it’s amazing to want to show people how much you care, the first person you should make sure you love is yourself.
So many of us walk around loving the idea of being loved, desiring to feel desired, but we can’t seem to make a point to even like ourselves.
We say or think hateful things to ourselves. We judge ourselves harshly. We criticize our bodies and the way we look. Can you relate?
There are so many reasons why it’s important to love yourself and practice self-appreciation. It builds confidence and self-worth. It improves your happiness and quality of life. And most of all, it helps others know how they should be treating you. If you’re struggling with self-confidence and find it challenging to appreciate yourself, you’re actually limiting the quality of your relationships.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to build this “muscle” and work on loving yourself more.
Here are 4 ways you can practice self-love and appreciation, and grow on your personal development journey.
1. Write a letter to you from your future self. Take out a pen and paper and imagine that you’re 10 years in the future. Once you’re in that frame of mind, set a timer for 10 minutes and start writing to your current self. What would you want you to know? What advice would she tell you? What does she want you to let go of or grow from? This might seem silly at first, but I promise you’ll get a lot out of this practice if you’re vulnerable enough to lean in.
2. Make a gratitude list of all the things you like about yourself. This can be a hard task, especially if you already struggle with self-esteem issues. But I promise you, if you think about it, there are things you can find about yourself that you respect. Maybe it’s your resilience and how you’ve fought so hard to overcome the challenges and obstacles life has thrown at you. Maybe it’s your ability to love, care for, and empathize with others in your path. Or maybe it’s your work ethic, and how hard you strive to achieve great things in your life and career. Whatever it is, make a point to list out at least 10 things you love about yourself, and post it somewhere you can see it. I use a composition book with LOVE written on it and record my successes and things I am proud of just in case I need reminding on those days when I am too hard on myself.
3. Leave yourself confidence clues. What’s a confidence clue? It’s a small note or affirmation posted visually where you can see it and repeat it out loud. Get a post-it note and a pen and write an affirmation to yourself. Try something like, “You have everything you need to succeed!” or “You are worthy of love.” Then, post these on your bathroom mirror or in your car so you can find these reminders on a daily basis. There are so many beautiful “thought and quote” cards you can purchase as well with positive affirmations on them, just in case you need some extra inspiration.
4. Do something special just for you. What are you waiting on someone else to do for you? Bring you your favorite flowers? Buy you a nice piece of jewelry? Take you on a trip you’ve always wanted to go on? Maybe a much needed massage? Whatever that one thing is for you, make a plan to do this for yourself! Stop waiting to do the things you’ve always wanted to do. You’ll most likely find that once you start living and loving your life, the right people will want to be a part of it!
You were created with a unique purpose. You have a special combination of gifts, qualities, and personality traits that no one else in the world has. But all of that means nothing if you don’t realize it.
Take some time to really appreciate yourself and practice self-love this week! Your future self and your relationships will thank you for it.