Practicing Self-Love

February, the month of love. No, I’m not talking about heart shaped candy boxes and giant stuffed animals kind of love. I’m talking about self-love. It’s a term that has recently graced our society and yet we are unsure how to implement self-love into our lives. Self-love is choosing yourself, rediscovering your own path and being satisfied with your imperfections. You can’t fully love other people if you don’t love yourself first.

How do we implement self-love into our daily routine? It can be hard to practice. We spend so much of our lives judging ourselves for the choices we make instead of celebrating our little victories. Here are the best ways to practice self-love.

1. Be Your Best Friend.

We can be our biggest critics. We can think the worst about ourselves and say the one thing that will make us spiral with self-doubt. But is that how you would talk to your best friend? No. When you’re best friend is dealing with self-doubt how do you react? Do you rush to their defense? Tell them everything is going to be okay? List everything you love about them and why they are the best person in the room? We would go to bat for our friend over and over again so why can’t we for ourselves? Start talking to yourself how you would talk to your best friend. Compliment yourself, be kind to yourself and don’t hold yourself to such a high standard. You’re doing the best you can!

2. Create Healthy Habits

Healthy habits can benefit your physical, mental and emotional health. By applying healthy habits into your everyday life you can improve your well-being and feel confident in your own skin. Join a workout class, drink more water and get some sleep! All these healthy habits can give you a positive mindset.

3. Celebrate Small Victories

Small wins are progress points on your way to your goal. Although they are small goals, they are still goals worth celebrating! Celebrating small victories can make you happier and realize that you deserve more. You deserve to get everything you want out of life. Motivate yourself to accomplish your goals and I promise you will succeed.

4. Remember To Self-Care

Self-care is equal to self-love. You need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. Remember that everyone deserves a break once in a while, including you. Taking the time to self-care will keep you from burning out and over exhausting yourself. Meditate for five minutes. Binge watch your favorite show. Treat yourself with ice cream. Do whatever makes you happy! By self-caring you can rejuvenate and begin to self-love again!

5. Create a Self-Love Chant

You are awesome and it’s important to believe that! I know most of us can compare ourselves to others or think the worst about ourselves but let’s not think that way. Embrace your flaws and be no one but yourself. The best way to practice self-love is to repeat positive affirmations in the mirror every morning!

By practicing self-care and self-love daily your self-esteem will grow exponentially! Be kind to yourself and choose self-love!