Love Yourself: What Does It Even Mean?

We hear it all the time. Love yourself. I don’t know about you, but I was so perplexed when I heard this. What does it even mean to love yourself? Everyone seemed to know what it meant except me. I decided to dissect and delve philosophically into the matter. What does it really mean to love yourself? I concluded that it is not necessarily about love, it is about how you treat yourself. The self respect your reflect upon your entire being. Treating yourself in a caring, nurturing way.

I concluded that loving yourself entails the following concepts:

Understanding Your Own Beauty

Outer beauty. It is easy to compare your beauty or the way you look to someone else. The first step to loving yourself is accepting your beauty. Loving the reflection you see in the mirror everyday, and embracing the face and the body that constitutes you. You are stuck (in a good way) with your self so why not make it a happy cohabitation? And if you don’t the way you look, then change it. Change the way you dress, change the way you apply your makeup, do your hair differently, lose weight or gain weight. Your beauty is in your hands. Don’t pout – wish I was this. Wish I was that. You are you.

(Inset your name) Comes First

No one is living your life except you. Putting yourself first is not selfish. It is smart. I am not saying be inconsiderate of others. I am referring to the fact that you have to think about yourself first and what is best for you, before thinking about others. Loving yourself means doing the things you love, going out of your way to do things you enjoy. Loving yourself means understanding what makes you happy, and executing upon that.

Forgiving Yourself

Embracing your imperfections and the mistakes you have made in your life is so important. Blaming yourself for things that are already over and done with serve no purpose in your life. You are only tormenting yourself with no use. Have the ability to acknowledge your mistakes, but also learn to forgive yourself and move forward. Don’t hold yourself hostage in a never ending cycle. Learn to forgive yourself instead.

Accepting That Not Everyone Has To Like You

We all want to be liked by everyone, but truth is not everyone is going to like you and that is ok. Instead of wasting your energy trying to be liked by everyone, focus on relationships that do matter. Accepting that not everyone is going to like you is the first step to loving yourself. Love yourself enough that you don’t need to be liked by everyone.

Trust Your Own Decisions

How many times have you felt the need to ask for someone else’s opinion on a matter that concerns you just because you are just not sure. The moment you stop depending on other people’s opinion that is the moment you begin to trust your own decisions. That is the moment you begin to love your own choices. Opinions are subjective. Trust yourself to the point you don’t need to depend on other peoples direction.

What does Loving Yourself mean to you?

Ps. Read my 30 Harsh Lessons in 30 years post. Also, a great insight to things you should be doing.

Tulle Skirt | Polka Dot Tank Top |  Shoes: Winners

Photography | Laura Clarke Photography 

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