What does it mean to have self love and why is it so important?

To have self love means taking care of your own needs and not discounting your welfare to please others.

People who have more self love tend to know what they think, want and feel. When you practice self care, setting clear boundaries, protecting yourself and don’t forget to forgive yourself, you are establishing healthy ways of self-love care in your life.

Practicing good self-care means eating a healthy diet, exercising and expressing gratitude. Methods for setting boundaries are: communicating effectively, respecting your own time and when you say no, mean it. Being assertive so your needs are met is
a way to protect yourself as well as managing your stress. This way you don’t get overwhelmed. This will be helpful in your self-care routine. Also, forgive yourself. By looking at each mistake as a learning experience will help in moving forward.

Why is self-love so important?

Self-love is important because operating from this place can give us the strength and courage to make it through tough times of adversity without having to engage in self-abuse or neglect. Lack of self-love creates an increase in shame, toxicity, fatigue, and exhaustion.

I spent many years doing what other people wanted while ignoring my own needs. I justified this by telling myself that I had to put others first and, if not, I was being selfish. These are lessons that I grew up with and, while they were not inherently wrong, they were flawed.

So, put yourself at the top of your to-do-list. Make time for self-care and do what makes you happy, not what makes others happy.