In my family, Valentine’s Day was never a holiday about romantic love. It was a holiday about love in all its beautiful forms. Family love, friendship love, and, most importantly, self-love. Too often we get so focused on the love of others that we forget the importance of cultivating self-love. These simple steps for falling in love with yourself will help you rebuild that vital relationship with YOU.
Schedule more “me time” to connect with yourself
A little one-on-one time is a key component in any healthy relationship; including your relationship to yourself. Cut out sometime during the day to just be with yourself. Take a long bath, spend a few minutes journaling, take yourself out to dinner… whatever your activity-of-choice just make sure it’s all about you. No distractions, no other people, just you, yourself, and a whole lot of love.
Learn a new skill or hobby to feel a sense of growth
Sometimes we can start to feel stagnant and this sensation of being stuck can cause us to feel disappointed in ourselves. One way to counter this feeling and create an environment in which self-love can thrive is to learn something new. I just started to learn how to knit and every time I create a new thing I feel giddy with excitement. “I did that,” I think, and I am immediately flooded with love for who I am and the things I can do.
Do things you are good at to create pride in yourself
If you aren’t in the mood for something new, why not go back to the old? Contemplate your talents and act on them. Are you a good writer? Write a letter to a friend using your best, most flowery language. Are you an athlete? Join a local club sport or find some time to play the sport of your choice. Amazing at cooking? Invite your friends over for a dinner party! Celebrate, embrace, and display your talents. You will feel proud of what you have accomplished, and a sense of self-love will soon follow.
Surround yourself with supporting, loving people
Some days, loving our selves can be hard. It’s only human. That’s what friends are for. Invite your most complimentary friend over for a cup of tea, go to breakfast with your kindest family member, or go on a date with your partner. Find the people who love you and make time for them. Seeing all the reasons they love you will help you remember why you should love you too.
Remind yourself that are beautiful, inside and out
One of the simplest ways to cultivate self-love is to just sit and think about what it is you love about yourself. Make a list of your favorite non-physical qualities, or stand in front of a mirror and admire all your greatest physical qualities. Or better yet, do both! It may be hard at first, but soon enough you will realize there is a whole lot to love about being YOU.
About the Author
Sarah Dittmore, the Director of Operations at True Nature Travels, is always seeking a new adventure. When she’s not barefoot hiking in the mountains of Peru, kayaking around an island off the coast of Italy, or camping in a rainforest in Costa Rica, Sarah writes about her adventures on her travel blog, Autobiography of an Adventurer. Join her as she travels the world and documents the wild and wonderful things she discovers along the way at www.autobiographyofanadvent
