To love yourself is more important than you’d think. It influences all the decisions you make and also determines the quality of your life. From persevering through failures to accepting the way you look, here are 5 ways to nurture self-love that will brighten your days.

Your self-esteem and self-worth are affected by how much you love yourself.

Self-love is the act of valuing yourself. It’s the practice of taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually. To nurture a healthy mind and body, you must focus on self-love.

Many studies prove that self-love and self-compassion are key to good mental health and well-being. It also plays a championing role in reducing anxiety and depression. When you love yourself, you’re more likely to treat yourself with kindness and respect. You’ll also forgive yourself when you make mistakes, and have compassion for others.

Below, we take a look at some of the things that you can do to practice how to love yourself.

Try Not to Compare Yourself with Others

Yes, it is easier said than done. We know from experience.

No matter the circumstances, it can be tough to stop comparing yourself to others. But it’s important to do so to love yourself fully.

Whether it’s about your accomplishments, burdens, luck, or appearance, evaluating it in the context of someone else’s life is never the solution. Doing so will only take you further away from self-love and happiness.

As Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy”.

A good starting point to tackle this mindset and change the way you perceive yourself is to understand that all of us are unique in our own ways.

Focus on your strengths. Make a list of things you like about yourself, or have achieved in your life. Refer to this when you start feeling discouraged.

Furthermore, spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself, such as those who inspire, support, respect you, and encourage you to achieve your goals.

Don’t Worry Too Much About Others’ Opinions

When it comes to self-love, one of the biggest challenges many of us face is worrying about what others think of us. We often get caught up in trying to please others and gain their approval.

But did you know that this can be damaging to your self-esteem?

It is one thing to care about what someone has to say and respect their opinions. But when you begin to fret about why they don’t like you or why they don’t approve of what you do, you are holding yourself back from achieving your full potential.

Our lives are our own. And we don’t need to live it by someone else’s standards.

Just remember that you don’t have control over what others think of you. You can only control your thoughts and actions.

Therefore, channel your energy towards living a life that you are proud of.

Allow Yourself to Make Mistakes and Learn From Failures

Making mistakes is a part and parcel of life.

It shows that you’ve tried something new or that you’ve put in an effort. That is something you should never be ashamed of.

We all make mistakes, and they hold a lot of wisdom that guides us in our future endeavours. The key difference in life is how you react to these mistakes and failures.

When you have a stronger sense of self-love, you’re more inclined to forgive yourself for making mistakes. Sometimes, the opportunity to learn from these mistakes may also be a significant driving force that motivates you.

Austrian psychotherapist Alfred Adler sums up this mindset perfectly. “What do you first do when you learn to swim? You make mistakes, do you not? And what happens? You make other mistakes and… what do you find? That you can swim? Well – life is just the same as learning to swim! Do not be afraid of making mistakes, for there is no other way of learning how to live!”

Every time you fear making a mistake or have made one, think of how far you’ve come from the person you were before. None of it would have been possible without a few mistakes, would it?

Remember That You’re More Than Just Your Body

As clichéd as it sounds, our bodies are something of a miracle. They keep us going even when the going gets tough.

But if you’ve ever felt uncomfortable in your skin or wished that you looked different, you wouldn’t be alone in that thought. Hundreds, probably thousands, of people face dissatisfaction with their body image.

If only it weren’t so.

One of the most important aspects of self-love is being comfortable in your own body. Try to avoid basing your self-worth on your appearance.

To love yourself, it is important to embrace your individuality. As long as it is not a serious health concern, the way you look shouldn’t be put under scrutiny. It doesn’t define your value. Rather, your overall appearance makes you unique.

Let Go of Toxic People

Toxic people are those who drain your energy and make you feel bad about yourself. They can hurt your self-esteem and limit your ability to love yourself.

Certified Trauma Recovery Coach Dana Arcuri was quoted saying, “If something doesn’t feel right or if something feels ‘off,’ learn to trust your internal warning signals. They are alerting you to danger… Learn to trust your intuition.”

To practise self-love, set boundaries and stand up for yourself. If you are in a situation where you can’t avoid the person, attempt to distance yourself from them and gradually, put a stop to all communication.

You can even talk to someone else about what you’re going through. It could be a trusted friend, family member, or therapist.

The more you engage with toxic people, the more obstacles you face while trying to improve your self-esteem and enhance self-love.

Nurturing self-love doesn’t happen overnight.

It is a sustaining habit which takes time and effort to build. We are here to support you on the journey. Try to incorporate these mindset shifts and you will see your life changed in ways you never imagined.