Do believe you deserve to be happy? Do you believe you deserve great things in life?
How you feel about yourself is directly related to how you treat yourself. People don’t realize that their self-worth is a major factor in whether or not they do what’s necessary to improve their life. Many people WANT to be healthy, wealthy, and happy, BUT they don’t believe they actually deserve it!
If I don’t love, cherish, and value myself, it’s unlikely I will dedicate the time and energy to living a healthier and more positive lifestyle.
So, learning to truly care about ourselves and honoring our well-being is necessary for living up to our potential. Here are eight ways to help you cultivate a loving and caring relationship with yourself.
1. Don’t compare yourself with others
No more measuring your self-worth to others. Everyone is different and we’re all at different places in our growth and development. It can be damaging to our self-concept when we look for others who have everything we don’t, or when we compare ourselves to people with different creative gifts and talents. First and foremost, stop comparing yourself to others.
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” – Buddha
2. Don’t worry about being accepted by others
This step can be difficult. We are born into a world where we are taught to seek approval and do what other people expect of us. Learning to be true to ourselves and not being afraid to express our needs and desires is a powerful step toward self-love. If something is important to you, don’t be afraid to ask for it, don’t be afraid to tell others how you feel. You deserve to be happy.
3. Recognize your intrinsic self-worth as a human being
You are a valuable person just because you exist. No matter what mistakes you have made, where you’re from, or what you do, you are still a worthy person. Use mistakes and past experiences as teachers, not as a measure of your self-worth. Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect, including you.
“We are all wonderful, beautiful wrecks. That’s what connects us–that we’re all broken, all beautifully imperfect.” – Emilio Estevez
4. Do the best with what you have, regardless of circumstances
To get to where we want to be, we have to start from where we are. When we can accept our current reality and own it, we can then look for solutions and co-create our life. It takes patience and resourcefulness to take what we have and create the life we desire, but when we are accountable and recognize we are a co-creator of our life, we no longer feel helpless and hopeless.
5. Focus on serving and helping others
When we give of ourselves to others it is an amazing feeling. There are many ways to give back and help others. When you meet someone and find yourself comparing or judging, shift your mentality to one of service. Ask yourself, “how can I serve this person?” You will be amazed with how many opportunities emerge when we start thinking this way. When we decide to focus on serving others, we begin to think positively and feel good about ourselves.
6. Live life moment to moment
Find value in every moment, and look for meaning in everything you do. Living in the past can lead to regrets, and living in the future can make us feel disappointed about the present. This moment, right now, is the most important time of your life. Remember the saying, “Yesterday’s history, tomorrow’s a mystery, today is a gift, that’s why they call it the present.”
7. Pursue a worthy dream
You are alive for a reason. Having a life purpose is invigorating and inspiring. When we have a strong foundation to carry us through life we are able to push past obstacles. Purpose and meaning is the foundation for self-worth as it gives us a reason for living. It provides the fuel that burns our inner-fire and keeps us enthusiastic and hopeful.
8. Rejoice in your uniqueness
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
We all have unique gifts, strengths, and talents. Sometimes we overlook our amazing qualities because we are distracted by our weaknesses. Become content with your weaknesses and eccentricities. Love your uniqueness and offer it to the world. How can you use your unique life story to help others?
If you truly value yourself, you will stop doing things that harm your chances of living a healthy and happy life. Begin making self-acceptance and self-compassion a priority as you work toward becoming the best person you can be.
