The world we live in today is a confusing place to be in. You continuously feel that someone somewhere is judging you. It might be on social media because you don’t have enough ‘likes’. Or at that posh event because you don’t have a certain accent or dress a certain way. Or it might be because you weigh a few pounds extra. In the current scenario, self-doubts are easy to loom in your mind, which, left unchecked, can quickly convert into self-loathing.
There lies the importance of not only knowing and understanding the concept of ‘Self-love’ but of practicing it as a daily ritual as well.
Self Love
Self-love means appreciating yourself and having a positive vibe about yourself.
It is an important aspect of sound mental health, where you learn to treat yourself as a unique individual, stop comparing yourself with others, and treat yourself with compassion and sympathy.
Of course, going overboard with thinking about yourself or being self-absorbed is taking the concept of self-love to an extreme. Hence, Narcissism is rampant on social media, where you post minute-by-minute pictures of your daily routine and cannot be categorized as self-love.
On the contrary, it means that you are continuously seeking external validation. This, in turn, shows symptoms of deep-seated insecurities. And need to start working on loving yourself, without continuously seeking external validation!
How to start your self-love and self-care routine?
Your self-care routine will be as unique to you as you are to this world. Hence, your self-care routine has to be personalized according to your needs and desires. The basic idea is that they should make you feel good about yourself. At the same time, they should nourish your body and soul.
Some tips to get started on your self-love journey are:
- Get to know yourself: Before you start any project, you need to understand its intricacies in detail. So why should the greatest project of your life be any different? You can start a journal to jot down your thoughts and feelings about the day or any significant event in your life. You can analyze your likes and dislikes and what you would prefer to do in your time off. In short, you can analyze and figure out what truly makes you happy!
- Start a self-care routine: If you love to paint, get those paintbrushes out. If you love to read, shake the dust off those books lying unread in the cupboard. Go for that long walk, eat healthy, put on that face mask, and relax with the soft music playing in the background. As we mentioned, self-care means different things to different people. You just have to figure out what it means for you!
- Draw your boundaries: Learning to say no and distancing yourself from toxic people is probably the hardest act of self-love you have to perform. But drawing your boundaries around people who continuously, intentionally, or unintentionally demean you and sap out your life energy is imperative for your mental piece. After all, you owe it to yourself to surround yourself with a positive aura.
- Explore your surroundings: Pushing your limits and getting out of your comfort zone is the best way to unleash the hidden potential in you. So go get a new hobby, meet new people on apps, or go have that vacation you have been dreaming of. Surround yourself with positive energy, and don’t let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do!
- Surround yourself with a positive aura: Practice positive affirmations to build your self-confidence. Pin up inspiring quotes on your study table and cupboard and internalize them. Surround yourself with genuine, supportive family and friends. Try meditation to calm yourself and get rid of any negative thoughts. Practice gratitude every day. Surround yourself with positive people and positive thoughts to enhance your self-care journey.
Quotes for self-love
Words have a wonderful way of bringing themselves to life by the meaning that they hold within themselves. These self-love quotes will help you get inspired and energized in starting a lifelong self-love journey.
Here are some inspiring quotes about self-love:
- “Self-love is the greatest act of commitment to your well-being that you can imagine.”
- “Self-love is the greatest answer you can give to the world, questioning your every move. “
- “Self-love is not optional; it is the right your soul has over you. “
- “Self-love is the language with which you thank God for blessing you with this life. “
- “Self-love is about making yourself a priority. “
- “Self-love is not defining yourself through the eyes of other people. “
- “Loving yourself is practicing the highest form of gratitude towards God. “
- “Practising empathy and self-compassion is the starting point of self-love.”
- “Self-love is about accepting yourself for what you are, at the same time aiming to be the best version of yourself. “
- “Self-love is the process of realizing your true potential.”
- “Self-love is a habit that needs to be inculcated by everyone aiming to live a full life”
- “Self-love is knowing your self-worth and not letting yourself be taken for granted”
- “You deserve to be the best version of yourself, and that happens when you truly love yourself “
- “When you love yourself despite all your flaws, you learn to accept the flaws in others too, and that is the beginning of beautiful relationships.”
- “Self-love is putting yourself first, even if you have no one to back you or claim that love for you. “
- “Loving yourself and having self-compassion is the starting point from where compassion for the rest flows “
- “Yes, I am perfect. And Yes, I am still improving my perfection”
- “You, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. “
- “Loving others without loving yourself is slowly destroying your self-esteem and self-worth”
- “When you love yourself, you are all the company you need “
- “When you love yourself, you get a best friend for life, who will never leave your side. “
- “You exist because God wanted you to. You are a part of his plan. You are special. “
- “Start your day by telling yourself that you are special in your way, and end it by feeling gratitude for whatever you have achieved today “
- “Self-love teaches you that it is ok to draw healthy boundaries around you.”
- “Love yourself the way you want others to love you.”
- “To fall in love with yourself is the first secret to happiness.”
- “You are enough just as you are.”
- “Self-love is not selfish; you cannot truly love another until you know how to love yourself.”
- “Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.”
- “The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself.”
- “Loving yourself isn’t vanity. It’s sanity.”
- “Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line.”
- “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.”
- “4. “No one is you, and that is your superpower.”
- “The more you love yourself, the less nonsense you’ll tolerate.”
- “Don’t rely on someone else for your happiness and self-worth. Only you can be responsible for that.”
- “Your relationship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship you have.”
- “Self-love is the greatest middle finger of all time.”
- “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”
- “You have to choose yourself, even when others refuse to.”
- “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
- “You deserve the love you so freely give to others.”
- “You are enough. A thousand times enough.”
- “Never be ashamed of how deeply you love yourself.”
- “Self-love is not a destination; it’s a journey.”
- “Loving yourself isn’t vanity; it’s sanity.”
- “Self-love is about embracing who you are, even the parts you find hard to accept.”
- “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”
- “Loving yourself is healing the world.”
- “You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress, simultaneously.”
Wrapping up
Neglecting yourself to care for others might have been considered a virtue once. But in reality, it is the biggest vice that might leave you bitter and empty in the end. Sometimes it is you alone who can lift yourself to your highest spirits! And if you need a little help, here are 80 effective ‘I am’ affirmations to help you gain confidence in your self-care journey.
Sananda Bhattacharya, Chief Editor of TheHighSchooler, is dedicated to enhancing operations and growth. With degrees in Literature and Asian Studies from Presidency University, Kolkata, she leverages her educational and innovative background to shape TheHighSchooler into a pivotal resource hub. Providing valuable insights, practical activities, and guidance on school life, graduation, scholarships, and more, Sananda’s leadership enriches the journey of high school students.
Explore a plethora of invaluable resources and insights tailored for high schoolers at TheHighSchooler, under the guidance of Sananda Bhattacharya’s expertise. You can follow her on Linkedin