8 tips to develop more self-love 💝

In many ways, loving yourself sounds much easier than it actually is. Do you really love yourself? How can you learn to accept yourself as you are? In this article, you’ll find 8 tips to develop more self-love. With more self-love, you will not only make your own life more enjoyable, but you’ll also build a good basis for giving more love.

What’s self-love?

Self-love means that you value and respect yourself. That you accept yourself as you are, even your lesser sides. Nobody is perfect and that’s exactly what it is. It means that you allow yourself to be happy – taking good care of yourself and standing up for yourself when needed. In short, you’re kind to yourself.

Self-love is the basis of everything. After all, the relationship with yourself is the most important relationship you will ever have and the only one that really lasts your whole life.

Tips to stimulate your self-love

The life’s work of the writer Louise Hay, who died in 2017, was to teach people to love themselves, and to replace self-criticism with thoughts brimming with love and positivity. The tips below are based on Hay’s philosophy. According to her, you should start small. Take small steps and be prepared to persevere. Every time you let go of a harsh judgment of yourself or your life, you open yourself up to the infinite possibilities that your life has to offer.

1. Stop judging

Accept yourself as you are – including the qualities you’d rather not face. There’s always room for improvement, but you’re good enough just the way you are.

2. Be yourself

Be aware of who you are, what you feel and what you want. People with a lot of self-love act based on who they are and where their heart lies. Listen to what you want, not what people around you want. Realise that the greatest pressure from outside actually comes from within.

“Realise that the greatest pressure from outside actually comes from within.”

3. Be grateful

It’s a scientific fact: gratitude makes us happier. If you pause and think about what you can be grateful for in your life at least once a day, you’ll appreciate what’s already there, you’ll stop wanting to change things, and you’ll be more satisfied with your life. And with that, you’ll love yourself more.

4. Don’t worry

Life’s not always fun, and that’s just part of it. Accept that your life has its ups and downs and gently rock back and forth with the tides. Be mindful and live in the moment as much as possible. Don’t think about all the bad things that could happen. Create a positive image of the future. You’ll notice that positive thoughts immediately make you feel a lot better.

5. Set boundaries

You have to educate your environment to treat you the way you want to be treated. You do this by setting boundaries and enforcing them when they’re crossed. People with self-love guard their boundaries well, as they believe they are worthy of being treated well.

6. Care for your body

You should care for yourself emotionally, but also pay attention to your physical body. A lack of self-love is the cause of many health problems. If you don’t value yourself, you’re less inclined to take good care of the skin you’re in. It’s important to rest when necessary, get enough exercise and eat healthily.

“A lack of self-love is the cause of many health problems.”

7. Give yourself compliments

When you regularly give yourself a pat on the back, you build up your self-esteem. Tell yourself how well you are doing. Do the same when it’s about small things.

8. Forgive yourself

We are often crueller to ourselves than we are to others. This makes sense, but it’s also a bit sad! Let go of the past. You did things with the knowledge and experience you had at the time. Now you might do things differently, so let it go. You’ve grown and changed. Forgive yourself and focus on the future.

Can you accept yourself as you are? And what do you do to love yourself more? Share your tips with us!