5 Guidelines for Self-Love

Do you love yourself? Do you believe in yourself? Sadly, many people answer these kinds of questions with a resounding “no.” It seems like very few people in this world love themselves for who they are. Instead, they seek ways to make themselves feel better—a pacifier—because they can’t get past their own flaws.

If you have been experiencing great difficulty in loving yourself, these tips will hopefully show you that nobody is perfect, and that there is something to be loved in each of us.

Self-Love Guideline #1: Forgive yourself.

Of all things you do that hurts yourself, being unforgiving ranks at the top of the list. When you can’t forgive yourself for things you did in the past, it festers deep within your heart. It creates horrible boils inside your heart and soul that pop and ooze and create even more sores. To love yourself is to forgive yourself…for anything and everything you might have done that you think is bad.

Self-Love Guideline #2: Believe in yourself.

Have you followed through with so little in your lifetime that you feel like a complete and total failure? These feelings of self-doubt leave little room for you to believe in yourself and your cause. It generates fear, which propels you further away from your dreams and ambitions. Believe in yourself and know that you can accomplish anything you set your heart and mind to.

Self-Love Guideline #3: Stop worrying about everything.

Worry is a form of fear. When you worry and think about all the things that might happen, you create a shield of nervous energy around you. Everyone you come in contact with will feel that negative energy. The longer you keep that shell around you, the harder it becomes, until you worry so much that you force yourself into an inactive state. Accept what cannot be changed and only concentrate on working on the things you do have control over.

Self-Love Guideline #4: Tell the truth.

Lies and deceit will ruin you in a heartbeat. Once you start on the path of dishonesty, it’s a hard road to travel and you will find very few side roads back to honesty. Telling one tiny lie always leads to another. Tell the truth—even when it hurts. Most of all, be honest with yourself. Nobody but you believes your lies anyway.

Self-Love Guideline #5: Don’t be mean.

Finally, be kind and gentle with yourself. If you don’t love yourself, it will be difficult for anyone else to love you. They might try, but it’s hard to hug a porcupine. When you find yourself wanting to criticize yourself for a mistake or shortcoming, stop and think about something good you’ve done lately. Be sweet to yourself.