Empowerment, Featured Posts, Inspiration, Self Care
Adopting Good Habits to Nourish a Loving Attitude
Whether you are holding yourself to unrealistic standards or you are spending your energy focusing on other people, it can be easy to develop a pattern of feeling down on yourself. Constantly feeling inadequate will wreak havoc on your mental health and affect your relationships, your work, and even your body. However, today we are talking about adopting habits to nourish a loving attitude.
Self-love can mean many different things, but what it really boils down to is feeling good about yourself. Self-love is about building your self-esteem and self-image. We tend to depend on others for validation, but it’s important to develop your own internal compass. Like the picture above states, “Have you hugged yourself today?”
We all struggle with self-esteem issues from time to time, but if you want to have a positive relationship with yourself, you might need to put a little work into it. Try adopting these habits that help nourish a loving attitude towards yourself.
- Practice Mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness, such as allowing yourself to be present in the moment, and letting your thoughts and feelings come and go without reacting to them, helps to build your self-esteem.
- Prioritize Self-Care
Take some time out for yourself every day to do something just for you. If you’re a busy mom and can’t envision yourself getting a massage every day, you’re over-thinking it. Even if it’s taking the dog for a walk in the fresh air, or meditating for 15 minutes to clear your mind and soul. It doesn’t have to be something big, it just has to be SOMETHING! Because that is what self-care is. Whatever you like to do that is nourishing for your body and soul, do it.
- Allow Yourself To Forgive
We occasionally need to remind ourselves that nobody’s perfect. Find a way to forgive yourself for any mistakes you feel you’re making and commit to improving your behavior and living more closely to your values. I jusst started reading this wonderful book by Emily Ley titled “Grace not Perfection“, and in the book she talks about “Here’s the thing about grace, you don’t have to be perfect to embrace it.”
- Respect Your Body
Practice self-love and respect for your body by eating healthy and exercising. You will feel better about the way you look when you make choices that you are proud of. Choose clothes that flatter your body instead of throwing on “any old thing”. When you feel better about the way you present yourself, you walk taller and feel more confident.
- Stop Comparing Yourself To Others
Stop comparing your looks and your life to others. Be proud of the unique and special person that you are. You never truly know someone’s full story; if you did, you might feel happier about your own life.
- Surround Yourself With Positive People
It’s difficult to cultivate self-love if you are surrounded by negative people. Do your friends treat themselves with love, compassion, and respect? If not, try to find people you can spend time with who might give you more peace of mind when you’re around them.
- Do More Of The Things You Love
Even if you feel stuck in a dead-end job just to pay the bills, that’s okay. But what are you doing the rest of your day to nourish your mind, body and soul? What are your hobbies, interests, things that enjoy doing? Engage in activities that make you feel good and bring you happiness.
Here is a list of the books I am reading this year, if you would like to join me.