9 Simple Ways to Start Loving Yourself

Stop being so hard on yourself. When you show yourself love and compassion instead of focusing on the failures or negatives, your mental health will benefit. When you have negative thoughts about yourself, consider that these are only thoughts. The reality of who are will always be more appealing than the negative thoughts that creep into your mind.

Showing yourself love requires taking care of your body. By eating foods that are good for you and fitting in fitness when you can, both your body and mind will thank you when you begin looking and feeling healthier. Eating the right foods and exercising regularly are some of the most important forms of self-love, because they can help improve all areas of your life.

Although sleep may be hard to come by due to early mornings or late nights, getting enough sleep is of the utmost importance for your physical and mental well-being. Show yourself love by getting the right amount of sleep, and in return you will see higher energy levels, better mood and improved general health.

Try to enjoy the moments as they happen and not worry about the past. Loving yourself means letting go of your past failures and embracing the good in your life. Staying in the moment is a good way to stop thinking about the past, and instead focus on the present and future and how much you are enjoying life.

In order to love yourself, you must limit the amount of criticisms that you put on yourself. Learn to appreciate you for you, stop trying to live up to an unrealistic ideal that is nowhere as good as the you that already exists. When you drop perfectionism and forgive yourself for mistakes you've made, you'll feel relief and freedom from negativity.

At some point or another, you may have looked into the mirror and been unhappy with what you see. Try and reverse this way of thinking by reminding yourself that you are beautiful, and that being negative about your appearance only causes yourself harm. Loving yourself requires you to embrace who you are. Instead of striving for a perfect body, strive for a healthy body that can carry you through life.

In order to love yourself, you have to let go of your fears. Let go of your fear of being judged, or your fear of rejection. Let loose, enjoy something fun with friends or even alone. There's a saying that "laughter is the best medicine," which shows just how beneficial being happy can have on your mental and physical health. Stop letting fears run your life, and start enjoying living.

Stop wasting your time at a job that you hate, or doing activities that do not fulfill you like watching television. Find something that you love doing, and reap the benefits of happiness and satisfaction with life. Whether it be your dream job or a sport you've always wanted to try, start living your dreams. Loving yourself means giving yourself the things that will create a positive impact in your life.

You know it's bad for you, but you just can't quit smoking or drinking or whatever your vice may be. Riding yourself of these is important in showing your body love, because it will make you feel better physically and stronger mentally when you are able to relieve yourself of your addiction. While this may seem like a difficult task, doing so will benefit you in the long run.