As Valentine's Day approaches, many of us are looking for love, or maybe an improvement in an existing loving relationship. But if you can't love yourself, then who can you love? If you're having trouble loving the person you are, then finding a connection with another person may seem daunting. We've all been told to be good to ourselves and treat our bodies and minds to good health and tranquility, but finding a good relationship with yourself can be harder than you think.
After talking to and meeting various people in my career, and training people who are looking for better self-esteem, I have found that self-esteem and self-love are issues that often go hand in hand. So many people find that a better body image leads to self-acceptance. If you suffer from low self-esteem, it is possible that the root cause is a case of insufficient self-love. For many of us, loving yourself is difficult because your mind has been filled with self-sabotaging thoughts for a long time.
There's no instant remedy to loving yourself, but feeling comfortable in your own skin is fundamental in attaining self-esteem. As a fitness professional, I cannot stress enough the importance of a consistent exercise program and healthful eating habits, and their positive effects on your mind and body. Liking your reflection in the mirror and feeling good about the perception people have of you are huge self-esteem boosters. And this doesn't mean you have to be a size four or an avid athlete. Just respecting your health and liking the person you see in the mirror are very important in the way you carry yourself and live your life.
If you've hit some hurdles on achieving self-esteem, here are ways to love who you are.
- Eliminate Self-Criticism. Do you sometimes berate yourself over the tiniest thing? Is there a little voice inside your head that often tells you that you've made mistakes or are lacking somewhere? If you find that you criticize yourself often, make an effort to stop.
Don't underestimate the importance of self-acceptance. It can put an end to any emotional pain that you feel, open doors to new and exciting people into your life or even lead to the spiritual experience you want. Invest in yourself -- your mind AND body -- and you can achieve a full and rich relationship with not only yourself, but somebody else as well!
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