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Even now, the idea of loving yourself is often maligned. Doesn’t that make me selfish? Or shouldn’t we spend our time and energy caring for others first? Or maybe we only seek love and acceptance from others, forgetting that we can always find love and acceptance within ourselves. .
Both mindfulness instruction and scientific research show that practicing self-indulgence daily can have powerful benefits beyond yourself. Kristin Neff, a leading expert on mindful self-compassion, says, “We grow by learning to accept ourselves and our lives despite our inner and outer imperfections.” “You can give yourself the strength you need to…”
benefits of self love
With inspiration from our community of mindfulness teachers and experts, we share 5 reasons why everyone should cultivate self-love.
1. Loving yourself supports improved mental health and well-being, as well as positive habit changes. Many of us grew up thinking that being kind to ourselves was the same as being complacent or lacking the desire to “improve” ourselves. All sectors of the self-help industry have made millions off this assumption that we need “tough love” to change ourselves. Fortunately, current research shows that the opposite is true.
Diana Hill, a clinical psychologist and acceptance and commitment therapy trainer, says: In contrast, self-compassion motivates us to make healthier decisions and take care of ourselves. ”
2. Self-love is part of healing from hurt and trauma. Once thought to be the result of experiencing a catastrophic event such as war or a natural disaster, trauma is now more broadly understood by researchers as a “normal response to an abnormal situation.” Masu. Whether a person experiences trauma after experiencing something difficult depends on a complex set of factors, including available coping mechanisms, access to the resources needed to recover, and community response.
While it is important for anyone seeking to heal from trauma to seek support from a mental health professional, beginning to cultivate self-love is one of the most powerful tools on your healing journey. When we give ourselves care and compassion, rather than (often) blaming ourselves for something that happened to us, it creates a sense of inner security and acceptance. Ali Smith, Atman Smith, and Andres Gonzalez, who work with youth in disadvantaged communities in West Baltimore, sum it up this way: Practicing self-love can open that door. ”
3. Self-love creates more thoughtful and resilient leaders. All types of leaders are at risk for burnout, whether they’re in charge of a committee, a company, or a classroom. Leaders are often so focused on the job and the people they lead that they neglect their own well-being. Genuine concern for others is a leadership asset, but it’s not sustainable if you don’t take time to fill your own cup.
CEO and leadership consultant Georgina Miranda suggests some ways you can incorporate small habits of self-love and self-care into your leadership style. Is it helpful at this moment?
4. Self-compassion makes us braver and more compassionate communicators. If possible, most of us would like to avoid what Mitch Ablett calls “the mud of difficult interactions: blame, shame, resentment, and anxiety.” Even when we are willing to discuss issues, humans are neurologically predisposed to fall into reactive habits such as blaming, prejudice, and defensiveness.
When the time comes for difficult conversations, a foundation of self-love is on our side. Practicing self-compassion helps you stay grounded and living in the moment, so even when things get heated, you can treat everyone involved with respect and consideration. can. “Bringing a more flexible awareness of discomfort seems to open the door to communication, even when it is very difficult,” Ablett said.
5. Last but not least, loving yourself affirms that you are already enough. One of the reasons we often seek love from others rather than ourselves is because we desire the approval and acceptance of others. This is something we often feel unable to give ourselves. We may spend years chasing achievements and accolades and still feel unfulfilled. External “victory” is great, but if you can’t accept yourself as you are, it won’t be enough.
Jenny Johnson reminds us that self-compassion gives us the power to let go of perfectionism and realize that we are already worthy of acceptance and love. “You are a unique and perfect expression of life. There is no one before you or after you like you. Your journey is about experiences and consistent thinking, doing, and paying attention. It consists of: You are enough.
Practice self-love with mindful affirmations
Introducing the Self-Love Affirmation Deck: A collaboration between Mindful and Mindfulness.com. It reminds us to energize our hearts and minds with the deepest tenderness.
Because each of the 52 cards in this brand new deck taps into the age-old wisdom of mindfulness teachers and traditions and features whispering notes of self-love, optimism, inner courage and strength. , you can face whatever happens.
There is also a QR code embedded in each card to guide you through this path journey. Just scan with your phone’s camera to access a special collection of 25 guided meditations by beloved teachers, specially curated to enhance self-kindness and self-care.
These cards are perfect for people who want to:
Increased self-esteem: Choosing to love yourself no matter what will increase your self-esteem and confidence, allowing you to approach life’s challenges with a positive and resilient mindset. Anxiety is reduced and mental health is improved: You can have more compassion for yourself. Perspective helps manage stress and anxiety, promotes a sense of inner peace and calm, and fosters emotional balance. Self-care for everyone: Self-love affirmations make it easy to incorporate mindfulness and self-compassion into your daily life, wherever you are. A BEAUTIFUL PRACTICE TOOL: Self-Love Affirmation Cards are made to last and, most importantly, to be enjoyed. Featuring a matte finish, silky smooth texture, and durable card stock, you’ll want to take it with you wherever you go. Versatility in practice: Ideal for personal reflection or as a meaningful gift, the cards can be used in a variety of settings, including personal ones. Things like meditation, family bonding time, and group activities in educational and professional settings.
