4 Ways to Love Yourself Unconditionally
When you stop to look in the mirror, what you see is often what gets reflected and perceived in the world around you. That’s why it is so important to love yourself, and learn to love yourself when you don’t necessarily know how. You should be your biggest fan. And going through life without self-esteem and self-love can pave a hard and often lonely road.
But of course, between the media and obsessions with perfection and beauty that we’re faced to endure each day, it can be a lot easier said than done. So if you’re struggling to love yourself unconditionally, here are four ways that have proven to be tried and true at growing that self-love.
Positive Affirmations
Before you roll your eyes and toss this step aside, affirmations may sound silly, but they’re not just a simple fad. The reason this method is so prevalent is because it works. Your thoughts dictate just about everything you think, feel, and see within yourself and the world around you. So in order to alter what you see, you must first alter how you think. You can do this by being extremely selective with your thoughts. There’s no room for self-criticizing – so toss it out!
Every day, sit in front of a mirror for a few moments and tell yourself what you like and love about yourself. Positive affirmations and thoughts help to re-wire your brain’s way of thinking. So the more often you can practice this, the better the outcome will be.
Ditch the Negative People
Who you hang around with most influences your thoughts and actions more than you may realize. So start de-junking that friend drawer, and ditch any people that are negative and may be bringing you down. After you spend time with that family member or that “friend” how do you feel? Do you feel lifted or dragged down? Social interactions should fill you up and re-energize you, not drain you. Back away from relationships that aren’t doing you any good.
Forgive and Let Go
No matter what may have happened in the past, forgive and let go of it. It can’t help you now, and stressing or feeling bad about it won’t do anyone any good. So let go and focus on moving forward. We cannot change the past, we can only change how we act and respond in the future.
Stop Seeking Approval from Others
We know how difficult this one can be. It’s hard not to compare yourself to others or seek acceptance and approval. But it’s one of the most toxic ways for allowing criticism and negative emotions to flood your thoughts. Let go of this need for approval. Focus on you and how you can continue to grow, move forward, and become a better you.
Loving yourself unconditionally is probably one of the toughest things to do. And sadly, it’s also something that too often gets shoved onto the back burner. But it is one of the most important factors for living a happy and healthy life. So start today by using these tips to get you focused on you and your self-worth.