7 steps to practice self-love
WE CONSTANTLY SEE MESSAGES ABOUT “LOVING YOURSELF.” HERE ARE THE TOOLS TO ACTUALLY GET THERE.
By Imani Tutt
(Adrian Fernandez / Unsplash)
A version of this article was originally published on Instagram.
Learning to love yourself can be difficult when we live in a society that teaches us that we should seek love from external factors. The most important relationship you will have is the relationship with yourself.
Commit to self love today. Here are 7 ways to make it happen.
Take accountability
Move towards your feelings rather than turning away from them. How do you usually cope with discomfort? This requires you to be one with yourself and to be honest. (Hint: Your triggers hold information for you.)
Get to know your emotions
Commit to learning about your emotions and acknowledge when you’ve made a mistake. You are only human and our mistakes are our teachers.
Explore
We don’t strictly live a life, we live a pattern. Loving yourself requires unlearning destructive beliefs or behavior that may be causing you pain. When exploring, ask yourself: “What is my role in this pattern that is causing me pain, how am I contributing to this dynamic?” and “Am I operating from a place of fear or a place of self-empowerment?”
Dig deeper
Once you understand the thoughts and behaviors that are contributing to your pain, dig a little deeper to explore your fears or beliefs around it. How are these beliefs contributing to your pain?
Open your heart
Open your heart to learning. Let the answers come to you over time. With everything you do, ask, “What can I do to love myself more?” and “Am I choosing actions that show that I love myself?”
Check-in
Check-in with yourself by journaling, meditating, praying, vlogging your progress, drawing, or listening to music. What are some of the small changes that you’ve made this week? What have you started saying “no” to for the sake of yourself?
Practice
Practice saying “no” and make decisions that have your best interest at heart — even if it makes you feel uncomfortable.
Imani earned a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hofstra University. Imani has extensive pre-graduate training in psychotherapy specializing in individual psychotherapy and enjoys working with millennials and adults who are looking for more meaning in their lives. Currently, Imani works for Gotham MFT in Manhattan, NY under the supervision of Andi Lyn Kornfeld. Imani specializes in working with individuals who are committed to exploring their journey through life through self examination.
Through her experiences and her career path, @imani.intouch was created in December 2020, with a mission to heal and grow, @imani.intouch is dedicated to inspire, heal and encourage millennials to take dominion over their lives, break generational curses and live more fulfilled lives.
