How Do I Practice Self-Love?

I truly feel that I personally have learned a few valuable lessons about loving myself. I feel qualified to share these lessons because I didn't used to love myself and now I feel that I do.

What changed?

I Changed the Way I Listened to the Radio
Before I loved myself, I would often scoff at love songs that played on the radio. A wise friend once told me however that it was important that I believed someone could love me. Her wise words made me start to leave those "corny" love songs turned up loud. I would sing to them and imagine that someone somewhere would write those exact (or similar) words for me. After I made this practice a habit I started to realize that a very big part of myself really does believe that I deserve to be loved by someone who would write beautiful words....inspired by moi.

I Changed the Way I Viewed Myself
I put a photo of me as a two-year-old in my bedroom where I could see it before I go to sleep at night. Sometimes I take the photo and give it a kiss. I try to imagine how my life would have been if I was loving that child...if I were the parent of that younger version of myself. I try to imagine how different and how happy I would have been if I had parented myself. I realize when I look at that photo that the little girl in the picture has no faults. She is wonderful so why would I think any less of myself just because I've lived a few more years than she has?

I Changed What I Do
I love to dance more than anything. I used to tell myself I couldn't afford dancing lessons and that I was too old for dance. Now I say "Fuck that!" and I DANCE MY HEART OUT! There is something about doing what you love that ends up with you loving yourself.


I Don't Get Caught Up in the Philosophy, Psychology, or Science of Things
I used to worry about what was right and who was saying the right things. I used to worry about the facts and whether or not I was adhering to them. I used to worry about the metaphysics of things. Now, I view myself as a creator. I make the rules and even if I don't, who cares?! When I read or write in my journal I can go beneath the surface but otherwise I just love myself in simple ways.

Health
Taking care of your physical health and well being is a wonderful way to show you love yourself and one of the most difficult. If you can do this you will also see big opportunities for advancement in the mental and spiritual realms as well. Remember to get the right amount of sleep for you. You probably already know what that amount of time is. Dream time is a wonderful place to be yourself and to be free!