Appreciate Yourself More with These 5 Simple Rituals
Contents
- You can’t pour from an empty cup – cultivating love within
- If you start practicing these 5 self-love rituals, not only will you love and appreciate yourself more, but other people around you will love and appreciate you even more as well:
- You are amazing, only you need to allow yourself to feel and see it!
- ◆ Frequently Asked Questions About Self-Love
You can’t pour from an empty cup – cultivating love within
Hey gorgeous, listen – you should always have in mind that in order to give away the love, you have to cultivate it within yourself first. It sounds cliché, but its the absolute truth. If you want other people to love and respect you, you need to treat yourself with love and respect first! How can we expect others to treat us like queens if we treat ourselves like an afterthought?
It starts with you, babe. When you fill your own cup, you naturally overflow with love for everyone else.
If you start practicing these 5 self-love rituals, not only will you love and appreciate yourself more, but other people around you will love and appreciate you even more as well:
1. Treat yourself with a gift.
How many times have you bought a gift for your partner, a birthday gift for your friends, or surprise gifts for the ones you care about? We are so good at spoiling others, aren’t we ladies? But let me ask you this – when was the last time you bought a gift for yourself, as a token of appreciation and love for that amazing, lovable, caring and compassionate person that you are?
When was the last time you bought flowers for yourself, just to brighten up your day? So many of us wait for a partner to show a gesture of love in this way, but why wait for them? If you love flowers, get yourself a gorgeous bouquet. You dont need permission to celebrate yourself. Remember, you are worth it!
Speaking of treats, I’d love to know – what is the one gift you’ve been hesitating to buy for yourself? Tell me in the comments below, I want to cheer you on!
2. Take time for yourself.
Women, in general, get so busy taking care of others that they forget to take some time to rest and recharge. Sometimes, we even feel guilty for taking the time to rest or to do some activity which brings us joy. We often believe that in order to be loved and feel worthy we have to give and give all the time. But here is the thing – being compassionate is a beautiful thing, but exhausting yourself to the point of burning out will not make you a more compassionate person. It actually makes us snappy and resentful, which is kinda selfish if you think about it.
When we overwork and overextend ourselves, we steal the time, energy and joy that we were supposed to give to ourselves and we aren’t able to give ourselves fully to others. Not to mention, overextending ourselves can go as far as harming our health, creating stress, anxiety and chronic tiredness. Taking time for ourselves is crucial so that we can show up greatly for others, with our love tank full and energy recharged! So please, take that nap, read that book, or just stare at the wall if you need to.
3. Take care of your body.
If your partner told you that he loves you all the time but he wouldn’t touch you, would you believe him? Probably not. So, do you state or believe that you love yourself and your body, but you do not take the time for a self-care routine? Actions speak louder than words, lovely.
Nourishing your body with good quality cosmetics, lotions, getting a massage, eating nutritious meals, and moving your body in a way that brings you joy (dancing, Pilates, yoga, swimming, jogging) is essential. Getting enough rest and sleep will help you build a loving relationship with your body and feel more confident, sensual, desirable, feminine and seductive. When you feel good in your skin, you glow differently.
We want to hear from you! What’s your favorite way to move your body that doesn’t feel like a chore? Share your story in the comments below – your experience might help another woman find her joy in movement!
4. Let go of negative self-talk.
In order to truly love and accept yourself, you have to let go of negative thoughts about yourself and your body. We can be so mean to ourselves, right? When we use language like:
“I am so stupid/clumsy/naive…!”
“I always mess things up!”
“I am not good enough…”
“I look so fat/ugly/skinny…”
“I am fat like a cow/pig/elephant…”
We only make ourselves feel worse, more disappointed, frustrated and even end up hating or despising ourselves. It breaks my heart to hear women talk this way. Write down in your journal or on a piece of paper all the negative thoughts you keep on repeating in your head and make a commitment to yourself that you will not think or say them out loud anymore!
If you ever catch yourself in this old habit, become aware of these thoughts and replace them with positive ones. Instead of focusing on your weight or other “imperfections” on your body, find something beautiful on your body and give yourself a compliment. Write down 10 of your biggest achievements and keep that list with you to read, for those days when you catch yourself thinking or saying how incapable (or something else negative) you are.
You are amazing, only you need to allow yourself to feel and see it!
5. Forgive yourself.
Forgive yourself for all the mistakes, failures, bad choices, negative self-talk, weaknesses, bad habits, goals you did not achieve, or for allowing yourself to trust someone who hurt you in the past. Listen babe, all this is now part of your past and you do not need to keep on carrying that heavy load on your shoulders. It’s too heavy and it doesnt serve you anymore.
Whatever wrong you may feel you did in your past, you have hopefully learned from it and when you know better you can do better! Accept all your mistakes and your past with love and gratitude as it has been your LWA (“Life Wisdom Academy”) and it has shaped you and molded you to become the kind of person that you are today. Today is a new day and a bright new chance to start building the amazing life that you have always been dreaming of!
Let’s support each other – drop a “❤️” in the comments if you are ready to forgive yourself today. You are not alone in this journey!
Frequently Asked Questions About Self-Love
Is practicing self-love selfish?
Absolutely not, babe! Think of the airplane safety rule: you have to put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. When you take care of your own emotional and physical needs, you have more energy, patience, and love to give to the people around you. Self-love is actually the foundation of being able to love others deeply.
How do I start loving myself if I have low self-esteem?
Start small, lovely. You don’t have to change everything overnight. Begin with one simple ritual, like speaking kindly to yourself when you make a mistake or buying yourself a small treat. Consistency is key. Over time, these small acts of kindness toward yourself will build up your confidence and self-worth.
What if I feel guilty taking time for myself?
Guilt is a common feeling for many women, but it’s a sign that you’ve been conditioned to put everyone else first. Remind yourself that rest is productive. You cannot serve from an empty vessel. Whenever guilt creeps in, affirm to yourself: “My rest is necessary for my strength.”
Your Questions, Answered!
Is practicing self-love selfish?
Absolutely not, babe! Think of the airplane safety rule: you have to put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. When you take care of your own emotional and physical needs, you have more energy, patience, and love to give to the people around you. Self-love is actually the foundation of being able to love others deeply.
How do I start loving myself if I have low self-esteem?
Start small, lovely. You don't have to change everything overnight. Begin with one simple ritual, like speaking kindly to yourself when you make a mistake or buying yourself a small treat. Consistency is key. Over time, these small acts of kindness toward yourself will build up your confidence and self-worth.
What if I feel guilty taking time for myself?
Guilt is a common feeling for many women, but it's a sign that you've been conditioned to put everyone else first. Remind yourself that rest is productive. You cannot serve from an empty vessel. Whenever guilt creeps in, affirm to yourself: "My rest is necessary for my strength."
Heidi Kokborg:
I really loved this post! Loving yourself is so important. I will keep all these tips in mind and actually start doing them! Thanks so much for this wonderful post!