Self-Love and What It Means
5 Minute Read
Key Takeaways
Self-love can mean different things to different people
Figuring out what self-love means to you as an individual is an important part of your mental health
To practice self-love start by being kind, patient, gentle and compassionate to yourself, then figure out what aspects of your daily routine meet your needs to maintain wellness and mental health
What is self-love?
Before a person is able to practice it, first we need to understand what it means.
Self-love is a state of appreciation for oneself that grows from actions that support our physical, psychological and spiritual growth. Self-love means having a high regard for your own well-being and happiness. Self-love means taking care of your own needs and not sacrificing your well-being to please others. Self-love means not settling for less than you deserve.
Self-love can mean something different for each person because we all have many different ways to take care of ourselves. Figuring out what self-love looks like for you as an individual is an important part of your mental health.
What does self-love mean to you? For starters it can mean:
Talking to and about yourself with love.
Prioritizing yourself.
Giving yourself a break from self-judgment.
Trusting yourself.
Being true to yourself.
Being nice to yourself.
Setting healthy boundaries.
Forgiving yourself when you aren’t being true or nice to yourself.
For many people, self-love is another way to say self-care. To practice self-care, we often need to go back to the basics and:
Listen to our bodies.
Take breaks from work and move/stretch.
Put the phone down and connect to yourself or others, or do something creative.
Eating healthily, but sometimes indulge in your favorite foods.
Self-love means accepting yourself as you are in this very moment for everything that you are. It means accepting your emotions for what they are and putting your physical, emotional and mental well-being first.
How and Why to Practice Self Love:
So now we know that self-love motivates you to make healthy choices in life. When you hold yourself in high esteem, you're more likely to choose things that nurture your well-being and serve you well. These things may be in the form of eating healthy, exercising or having healthy relationships.
Ways to Practice Self-Love Include:
Becoming mindful. People who have more self-love tend to know what they think, feel, and want.
Taking actions based on need rather than want. By staying focused on what you need, you turn away from automatic behavior patterns that get you into trouble, keep you stuck in the past, and lessen self-love.
Practicing good self-care. You will love yourself more when you take better care of your basic needs. People high in self-love nourish themselves daily through healthy activities, like sound nutrition, exercise, proper sleep, intimacy, and healthy social interactions.
Making room for healthy habits. Start truly caring for yourself by mirroring that in what you eat, how you exercise, and what you spend time doing. Do stuff, not to “get it done” or because you “have to,” but because you care about you.
Finally to practice self-love start by being kind, patient, gentle and compassionate to yourself, the way you would with someone else that you care about.
About the Author
Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D., serves as the President & CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, the largest private funder of mental health research grants. Dr. Borenstein developed the Emmy-nominated public television program “Healthy Minds,” and serves as host and executive producer of the series. The program, broadcast nationwide, is available online, and focuses on topics in psychiatry in order to educate the public, reduce stigma and offer a message of hope. Dr. Borenstein also serves as Editor-in-Chief of Psychiatric News, the newspaper of the American Psychiatric Association.
Dr. Borenstein is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine and serves as the Chair of the Section of Psychiatry at the Academy. He also has served as the President of the New York State Psychiatric Association. Dr. Borenstein earned his undergraduate degree at Harvard and his medical degree at New York University.
Source
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (2020). Self-love and what it means. New York.
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