What Does Loving Yourself Even Mean?

Valentine's Day is not just about loving others, it's about loving yourself too.

Do you even know what loving yourself means? If not, it's time to know it now. Keep reading.

I initially wrote most of this post last November, but I feel the information is so important, and also relevant for this week, that I decided to bring it back with a few edits. I hope it serves you.

​What does “Loving Yourself” mean?​

​Let me clarify this first. Loving yourself does not mean being intentionally selfish, insensitive, and hurtful to others.

​In fact if you consciously know you are doing just that, you will not feel good. And if you are doing something that doesn’t make you feel good, then you’re not loving yourself.
​
Loving yourself means that you always pay attention to how you feel inside and, in a kind manner, do all that you need to do to feel good.

You can make changes to your interior or to your exterior. Although, most of the times the only change needed is in your interior. You will notice that by taking care of your interior, most of the times your exterior will begin to take care of on its own; you’ll see.
 
Taking care of your interior means that you pay attention to what’s going on inside your body and inside your mind. 

​Loving Yourself has nothing to do with others

​Realize that in order to love yourself, you don’t require anybody else besides yourself. You only need you. No one else is needed here. ​

​Don’t do it to gain respect, love or appreciation by others, and try not to depend too much on experiences, events and people to feel good. Yes, they will affect you of course, and sometimes negatively, but you, and only you, decide how much.
​
Remember, you’re not doing this for others, you are doing it just for yourself. This has to be the right mindset to begin.

Loving yourself means that you do whatever you need to do to find your own internal sense of stability

​How to Love Yourself

​In order to find your own internal sense of stability, you need to listen to who you really are until you understand your own true nature.

​To do that you begin by paying attention and knowing yourself so well that you learn to respect, trust, honor, believe, accept and forgive yourself.

Every day pick one of the items listed above and focus on it right after waking up. If you cannot focus long enough, wait for the next day and begin again. Don't worry, you have the rest of your life to master this.
 
Begin by focusing on just one item at the time and notice the change.  Once you are able to stay focused for longer periods of time, keep at it for 30 days. Little by little you'll be able to focus on more than one item at the time until it becomes your second nature.
 
Remember to make loving yourself a fun journey. Don’t work too hard to achieve it.

​I don’t want you to feel frustrated, impatient or mad because that defeats the whole purpose. Be easy on yourself as you develop your new internal stability.

Why to Love Yourself?

According to research, going back to the path of loving yourself is linked to better health and increased motivation to make wiser choices.  

When I decided that it was time to begin loving myself, it was because I needed to feel different, I needed to feel better, I needed a change and somehow I felt I had to begin there. I was so ready to feel peace, love, joy, and contentment.

And I made it. By focusing on the items above, and by doing some energy healing, I was able to release some emotional blocks and started to see me different, inside and out. I felt so much better even though nothing had changed on the exterior, it was all inside of me. 

If for some reason you think you don't deserve love or think you don't know where to begin, you are not alone. The good thing is that all you need to do is to make the decision. Yes, it's that simple.

Do you love yourself? if not, are you ready to begin?