Self-love and why it matters for both you and humanity!

Before we jump into the “why” of self-love, let’s grasp what it is. Self-care is an aspect of self-love, but it isn’t all. Self-care includes eating right, exercising, and getting enough sleep; all critical activities which will help you achieve physical well-being. But our physical bodies are only part of who we are… our spiritual and emotional bodies need attention too.

Self-love includes paying attention to your self-talk and choosing words that uplift you rather than criticize you. The words we use on ourselves are often more critical than the words others would call us. Changing this paradigm and choosing uplifting words instead of critical words builds emotional balance and self-love.

Self-love includes giving yourself grace; understanding that you have made choices based on the tools and information available at the time. Instead of self-recrimination, choosing to give yourself grace will allow you to move forward without dwelling on the past.

Self-love includes feeding your spiritual needs – whether you are fed by being in nature, creating art or music, dancing, or communing with others in a church, it is important to do the things that make your heart sing.

Now that you know what self-love is, let's discuss why it is so critical.

• If you don’t love yourself, you are not emotionally open to receiving the fullness of love from others. You do not see yourself as loveable, so you self-sabotage and push people away. You may crave love, but you do not know how to receive it.
• Hurt people hurt people. People who are emotionally injured frequently lack self-love. They didn’t receive love from one or both of their parents, so they see themselves to be unlovable. They project the part of themselves that they hate and wish to destroy; they see it in others, and they lash out. ?People have been killed because of this. Self-love needs to be taught to children.
• Children learn what they live – see this poem by Dorthe Law Nolte. If a child lives in criticism; they learn to condemn, themselves as well as others. This world has too much judgment in it; it is time for us to teach children self-love, so they have tolerance for themselves and others.
• The medical industry is filled with patients -people who do not have self-love, who do not do self-care. Emotional eating happens for many; but with self-love, we might make better food choices. If we taught self-love and self-compassion in schools, the diet industry may cease to exist.?

Self-love is critical to the well-being of you, your children, and the world. After scanning this article pick one aspect of self-love that you have not added to your routine and try it today!