Self-love is the act of showing yourself the respect and attention you need to flourish as your most awesome and authentic self. Most people don’t put enough emphasis on the importance of self-love, but I’m here to tell you it is the complete opposite. Because you value yourself, you know your worth. When you know your worth, you can start accepting only the best for you and your future goals.
Self-love- Why It’s Essential on Your Healing Journey
The journey of self-love isn’t just a one-time thing. And it’s not a fix-it-and-forget-it kind of journey. It’s an ongoing practice, one that you will spend time uncovering and perfecting for years to come. The act of loving yourself seems simple, but in this fast-paced, high-output modern life that most of us chase after, we can easily forget how powerful and worthy we are when we accept ourselves completely and not rely on outside opinions. The practice of self-love is more important now than ever.
Why a Self-Love Practice is Essential
- Mental Health Benefits: Having healthy boundaries around self-love leads to wide-reaching areas like increased self-esteem and confidence and reduced anxiety, stress, and depression.
- Physical Health: A healthy relationship with self leads to better physical habits by manifesting in better self-care routines, exercise routines, and better nutritional and sleep patterns. By having a balanced outlook on Self, positive impacts can not only be seen but felt in the body by reducing stress hormones that cause inflammation.
- Emotional Resilience: By having a healthy relationship with ourselves it opens up the possibilities for greater emotional strength and the ability to set healthy boundaries in our relationships outside ourselves. This can lead to an even deeper healing of past scars we didn’t realize were there until we allowed ourselves the compassion for healing.
How to Start a Self-Love Practice
The best way to start a self-love practice is to just start. It will look a bit different for everyone, but the main concept is to just allow yourself the grace and compassion to love yourself through the good and the bad that you have experienced throughout your life. We all go through ups and downs, but it’s what we do in those polarized experiences, and the lessons we learn along the way, that make us who we are as human beings.
Small steps are still steps. Even if all you can do is look at yourself in the mirror and smile, that’s a win. It’s not about the act as much as it is the intentional step taken to build a solid foundational practice. Good things take time to create, and that is as much true with self-love as with anything else. But when they are finally complete, they are solid. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Just remember, one small step today, will equal progress seen tomorrow. Be kind to yourself.
6 Rituals & Routines to Promote Self-Love
Daily Affirmations:
Start each day with affirmations to reprogram negative thought patterns and beliefs we have collected throughout the years. I like to write them on sticky notes all around the places I frequent the most within my home or office. The one on my bathroom mirror reminds me daily that I can do hard things, and it has never lied to me yet.
Journaling for Reflection:
Create a journaling routine to explore your emotions, thoughts, and epiphanies. Journaling is a great way to share your challenges and triumphs, in a healthy way. A good journaling prompt to start you out with is “What makes me feel worthy?” or “How can I show love to myself today?” It might take a few days to sit and ponder the topics, but the more you sit with it, the more likely the answers will appear.
Mindful Movement:
By creating and maintaining a healthy connection to your body, you can promote healing and help build a strong self-love relationship. My favorite ways to connect with my body are by engaging in yoga or stretching to reconnect back to myself. Being outdoors in nature is another effective practice to add to your daily routine. Whether it’s a 30-minute walk in nature or a 5-minute reconnection meditation in the park, mindful movements encourage you to appreciate your physical form with judgment.
Self-Care Rituals:
As a Taurus moon girlie over here, I love a good self-care beauty ritual. From bath bombs and other herbal beauty concoctions to healthy skin care routines to promote skin health, I believe self-care beauty routines are a must. Fridays are the day of Venus; this is my day to pamper myself. Sometimes, it’s having a pedicure in the summertime to pamper my tired feet or simply an at-home spa day with a full body pampering, followed by a complete hair and make-up routine. I do it because it makes me feel good and revitalizes me on a spiritual level.
Setting Boundaries:
Many people might tell you that having boundaries is selfish. Setting boundaries is not selfish. Those people are gross and you should run the other way. It is affirming to yourself and to the relationships you are creating that you protect your energy and your time. It creates space for personal growth and self-respect and fosters stronger relationships because they are built on mutual respect and understanding.
Gratitude Practice:
Showing gratitude is my most favorite thing to do. Whether it be saying grace before each meal and celebration or saying thank you to God when I open my eyes in the morning, Showing gratitude is a practice that will help you focus on appreciating who you are, the growth you’ve made, and the people who support you on your journey. Start a simple daily gratitude practice by writing down 3 things you’re grateful for.
Self-love is the Foundation of Healing
Self-love isn’t just a feel-good concept—it’s the foundation of personal healing and empowerment. When we nurture ourselves with kindness, we create space for growth, joy, and deeper connection.
If this practice feels new to you, start small. Choose one or two rituals that speak to your heart today—maybe a few moments of gratitude, a gentle affirmation, or simply resting without guilt. Over time, let your practice evolve as you do.
I’d love to hear about your journey! Share your experiences or questions in the comments, and let’s support each other in cultivating more love from the inside out. 💛✨
