Learning to Love Yourself to Love Others

Do you feel like you have so much love to give but struggle to have healthy relationships with partners? While that doesn't mean that you're in the wrong, it's possible that your relationships don't work out because you haven't learned to love yourself. When was the last time you did something for yourself? How many times would you say you've put yourself down and called yourself names? We're often our biggest critics and lack self-love because of the experiences we've had in the past, but that lack of self-love can prevent us from having good relationships with others. If you want to love others, you must learn to love yourself.

Self-Care is a Must: Treat Yourself Because You Deserve It

Prioritize self-care when learning to love yourself. If you spend a lot of time doing things for others and not doing anything that makes you happy, you're doing yourself a disservice. Learn to love who you are, flaws and all, by taking time out of your day to do what makes you feel good. Try to spend at least 15 minutes meditating per day. Consider exercising more often to release stress and enjoy physical activity. If you don't want to do anything too strenuous, yoga is an incredible option that combines meditation with physical activity to provide the ultimate experience. In addition to these options, paint your nails, get a massage, put on a face mask, or even read a good book as a way to care for yourself and provide the nurturing that you want, need, and deserve to have.

Recite Daily Affirmations to Remind Yourself of How Amazing You Are

Use daily affirmations as encouragement. When you get up, look in the mirror, and recite positive things, it sets the tone for the day and can put you in a good mood. If you're not sure what to say or how to make yourself feel good, these are a few ideas of positive affirmations that can put you in the right mindset:

• You are beautiful!

• You are wise and educated.

• You have an incredible smile.

• You can get through any challenge that comes your way!

• You're going to have a wonderful day today.

Make sure you're looking at yourself in the mirror while going over your daily affirmations. While these are a few good things to say, you can always create a list of positive affirmations that you want to use each day for self-motivation and self-improvement.

Think About What Makes You Different

Start thinking about the things that make you different from other people. For example, do you have an incredible sense of humor? Do people know you for being a nurturing and loving person? Are you compassionate, empathetic, and always willing to lend an ear when someone needs it? No matter your characteristics, certain things about you are extraordinary and set you apart from the rest. When you know what makes you different, you can learn to appreciate those differences and start loving who you are and who you've become over the years.

Remember That You're Unique in Your Own Way

Don't ever compare yourself to other people. Don't say that you wish you could be taller or shorter, thinner or curvier. You are the only person on the planet who looks like you and has your unique characteristics. Focus on those things and learn to love those parts of yourself so you can grow as a person and become more confident than ever before!

Self-love is the most important thing that anyone can have. It's hard to love others when you don't love yourself. If you haven't been so kind to yourself over the years, now is your time to make changes while learning to fall in love with YOU.