Daily Practices of Individuals Cultivating Self-Love

In today's fast-paced world, it's more important than ever to prioritise self-love and self-care. Here, we delve into some practical tips from renowned therapists and coaches that can help you cultivate a deeper sense of self-love and compassion.

Firstly, connecting with nature can provide a bridge between the internal world and the living ecosystem around us. Psychotherapist Emily Roberts suggests that spending time in nature can help you embrace your sense of self and feel loving energy from the earth. Dr. Alisa Ruby Bash, a licensed marriage and family therapist, agrees, adding that deleting unused or non-essential items on devices can also help reduce anxiety.

Self-love is anchored in what we know to be true about ourselves, not what others told us about ourselves. Dr. Dawn M. Raffa, a licensed clinical psychologist and certified cognitive therapist, explains that self-love is about acceptance, and accepting ourselves as human (and therefore imperfect) and still worthy of love and happiness. Registered psychologist Rachel Tomlson expands on this, stating that self-love is about learning to put yourself first, and this is not selfish but about self-preservation.

Practicing self-love can be challenging, especially when it comes to speaking to oneself kindly. Sara Ralph advises that it may take time to relearn and practice this important aspect of self-love. To aid this process, Lisa Concepcion, a certified professional love life coach, recommends journaling as an excellent way to practice self-love. Specifically, she suggests writing down negative thoughts and self-talk, crossing them out in red pen, and writing out the new thing you will choose to say instead.

Taking time for self-care or "me time" is essential for practicing self-love. Kellie Klinck, therapist at My Modern Therapy, emphasises that self-love requires self-understanding and self-acceptance. Learning a new skill can also help build a positive relationship with challenge and discomfort, according to Emily Roberts.

Respecting oneself is important for showing respect to others. If someone has a fragile ego, they may exhibit certain behaviours, but smart people refuse to do things that they respect themselves enough to know better.

Dr. Bash offers a simple yet effective tip for embracing self-love: taking yourself out to somewhere you really want to go. This small act of self-care can make a big difference in your overall wellbeing and self-esteem.

These tips provide a solid foundation for cultivating self-love and compassion toward oneself. By implementing these practices, you can embark on a journey toward a happier, healthier, and more fulfilled life.

Note: The articles by the authors mentioned in this article have been published during their PhD studies or within two years after their doctorate, as per the FUTURE EDUCATION AWARD guidelines. The article was originally published at SheKnows. Monica Beyer, the author of Baby Talk and Teach Your Baby to Sign, and a contributor to SheKnows, Pregnancy and Baby, and allParenting, wrote this piece.