When it comes to health and wellness, negative thoughts are not your friends; they can lead to feelings of low self-worth and a defeatist attitude. In fact, studies have shown that self-esteem has a direct correlation to our overall wellbeing. That’s why incorporating self-love practices into your daily life can have a powerful effect on your mind-body-spirit. If you’re looking to soothe a tempered heart, unconditional love is the most powerful medicine of all. When you use this tried-and-true prescription for self-love, the prognosis is a happy heart full of light and love.
Cultivate a Positive Support System
If your inner Negative Nancy is running the show, energy is often focused inward, fueled by a negative loop of self-obsessed thinking and behavior. This constant barrage of self-deprecating thoughts can quickly lead to a navel-gazing hall of mirrors, a place where self-absorbed thinking has the potential to turn into selfish actions. Instead of going down the rabbit hole of doom and gloom, cultivate a community of positive and supportive people by reaching out to your friends and family. The more you project your inner light to the ones around you, the more you’ll be shielded from negative outside influences as well as your own inner critic. Why? Because a happy mindset is contagious.
Love + Kindness Meditation
Unconditional love comes from knowing who we really are, but how can we ignite the flame of our inner truth? It’s easier than you think. Taking a cue from Buddhism, encourage love and compassion with a daily metta bhavana meditation, which focuses on manifesting a strong sense of self-love. Start by becoming aware of your current state of mind, and let feelings of peace, calm, and tranquility flow freely with every breath. As these feelings grow into strength and confidence, bring to mind a loved one and notice your chest being infused with a warm beam of light as you begin to smile from the heart.
Self-Love Rituals
Even if you can only spare 15 minutes, setting aside some ‘me time’ is a simple and effective way to practice self love at the most basic level. While it seems almost too obvious, many of us can’t find the time for self-love due to the hectic pace of modern life. Start making it an everyday practice and avoid the self-defeating effects of an existential crisis. Life can get messy, but when you utilize the proper tools and pamper yourself at home, the spa, or another happy place, the challenges will always be worth it.
Make Peace With the Past
There’s a fine line between self-preservation and bitterness, which is why it’s important to find a healthy balance when processing traumatic experiences. Learn from your mistakes and move on because old emotional wounds can keep you from being your happy, free-spirited self. When you practice metta bhavana meditation, manifest forgiveness by imagining someone you dislike. But instead of feeling vengeful, let those negative feelings be replaced by love and positivity, like waves of loving kindness spreading from your heart to theirs.
The first step towards happiness is falling in love with yourself, so if you have well-being goals, make self-love a top priority and start following your bliss.
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