You might feel like you’re just not very good at anything in life.
You might not like who you are or what you’re doing with your life.
You might have made some bad decisions in your past.
These are all questions that you can’t answer for yourself.
But you can figure out how to permit yourself to love yourself. And it starts with giving yourself a voice.
Some advice to consider:
1. Affirm that you are special
Make a statement of self-love and remind yourself of how awesome you are.
Don’t hold back. Make sure that you’re telling yourself that you’re unique and that you’re capable.
Say to yourself:
I am amazing and beautiful.
I am worthy and worthy of love. I am loved by the most amazing people in the world.
I am one of the most amazing people in the world. I am uniquely important to this world.
It’s difficult to hate your body when you know you are special and you’re here for a reason.
2. Identify something that you like
This could be something as simple as the way that you shake hands, or it could be as complex as liking one type of fish over another.
If you have trouble identifying what you like, it’s OK. For the next exercise, try this exercise:
Think of someone you like. Make a list.
Write down a few different things that you like about that person.
This could be how they laugh, or how they smell, or even their handwriting.
Make a list and identify one thing that you think makes them special and different from everyone else.
3. Make a list of what you want in life
Think about what you want for your future and your family. What do you want in terms of love, support, and security?
Think about what you think you deserve. Make a list of some specific things that you want and deserve in your life.
How do you feel after you’ve spent a few minutes thinking about your life, your goals, and your desires?
That’s important. You don’t have to be satisfied with where you are in life right now. But it’s a great practice in doing so.
4. Get to know yourself
You probably know a little bit about yourself. For example, you know what your favorite food is, or you might be aware of your personality type.
Take some time to really get to know yourself and know what you love, what you dislike, and what your strengths and weaknesses are.
Sometimes, you may not understand why you feel the way that you do. You may not even know what exactly it is that you love and what makes you happy.
It’s important to learn about yourself, to be honest with yourself, and to be comfortable being honest.
5. Notice other people
Pay attention to the people around you. Notice what they’re doing and how they interact with each other.
Take note of what they say and how they say it. Observe their body language.
You may not realize it, but you probably notice other people’s behaviors a lot more than they would have you believe.
Notice how they stand, what they wear, how they react when someone says something to them.
Pay attention to the way they’re dressed. This will help you learn more about them and how they interact with others.
When you become more aware of the things around you, you may even become more aware of your own body language, which can be helpful as well.
6. Practice presence
Think about something you are doing right now. What about the moment right now is giving you peace and happiness?
Now, think about what you would like to focus on when you’re in the present moment. Notice the thoughts and feelings that come to mind.
Pay attention to your physical sensations.
What would it take for you to become more present in your body?
Maybe you would like to take a walk outdoors. Notice how the temperature is, how the sun is shining, the breeze, and everything else that is around you.
This can help you center yourself. It can also be an exercise in awareness. In other words, be more aware of what you are doing and how you feel.
7. Exercise for 30 minutes
This is one of the most important parts of mindfulness, since taking care of your body and being present in your body are the foundations for mindfulness.
Try something that you would never consider exercising for in your daily life.
For example, take a break from work and take a run around your block. Do it at a quick pace. Afterward, take a 10-minute shower.
Even something as simple as doing your dishes can be a great exercise in mindfulness.
You can then take a break, and think about your day, what you have to do the next day, etc.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. What matters is that you move.
8. Meditate for 15 minutes
Meditation is a great tool to help you become more mindful, more present, and less stressed out.
There are many different ways to practice meditation. What matters is that you just do it.
If you’re new to this, try practicing mindfulness for 15 minutes a day.
At first, it will feel strange, and maybe a little bit uncomfortable.
But if you stick with it, you’ll be surprised at how much you learn about yourself and your life.
