It’s more important how you see yourself than how others see you. I remember growing up with my friends and feeling like I had to tear myself down, because if I let them or anyone know that hey I thought I looked good today, that they would label me as conceited and self-centered. To me, that was the last thing I wanted to be. I didn’t want people to look at me and think “Wow, she’s so full of herself because she likes how she looks”. It’s like we’re preconditioned to hate how we look.
I read something on Facebook one time that said, “All of you have a little save the world inside you. And it’s ok if all you save is yourself”. Loving yourself in a loveless society seems almost impossible. If we’re looked down upon for loving someone else how the hell are we supposed to love ourselves? It’s so important to love yourself, because once you start to hate yourself, you start to hate your life. So here are 3 ways to love yourself in a loveless society.
1. Take yourself on dates.
Yes, I know this sounds weird and crazy, but when you’re first falling in love with someone what do you do? You go on dates with them, you find out random things about them that spur your interest. You learn what their laugh sounds like, and what their eyes look like when they’re thinking. Dates are how you get to know someone and eventually fall in love, so why not date yourself?
2. Compliment yourself.
Every day, name 1 thing that you love about yourself. For me, it’s my eyes, it’s the one thing that I have never criticized or hated about my appearance. Find just one thing that you love about yourself, and it can change how you view yourself because eventually you’re going to have to start digging deeper. First, you start with the surface things like your eyes, your hair, or your smile. Then you go to the deeper things like being able to make new friends anywhere, or give great advice. If you can start to compliment yourself daily, then you’re on track to a better you.
3. Accept compliments from others.
We’re all guilty of avoiding compliments. When someone says oh you look so nice today, just doing that awkward laugh and saying no but thanks. Stop doing that! Learn to take a breath and say well thank you. If someone’s complimenting you, it’s usually sincere, it’s not a joke and not something they did because it makes their life better. They could have gone on with their life never having complimented you but they didn’t, they felt the need to tell you that they like this about you.
Those are only 3 ways to love yourself I know, and I could list a lot more, but it’s not something you can just do in a day, it’s something that takes time, so get to work.
I read something on Facebook one time that said, “All of you have a little save the world inside you. And it’s ok if all you save is yourself”. Loving yourself in a loveless society seems almost impossible. If we’re looked down upon for loving someone else how the hell are we supposed to love ourselves? It’s so important to love yourself, because once you start to hate yourself, you start to hate your life. So here are 3 ways to love yourself in a loveless society.
1. Take yourself on dates.
Yes, I know this sounds weird and crazy, but when you’re first falling in love with someone what do you do? You go on dates with them, you find out random things about them that spur your interest. You learn what their laugh sounds like, and what their eyes look like when they’re thinking. Dates are how you get to know someone and eventually fall in love, so why not date yourself?
2. Compliment yourself.
Every day, name 1 thing that you love about yourself. For me, it’s my eyes, it’s the one thing that I have never criticized or hated about my appearance. Find just one thing that you love about yourself, and it can change how you view yourself because eventually you’re going to have to start digging deeper. First, you start with the surface things like your eyes, your hair, or your smile. Then you go to the deeper things like being able to make new friends anywhere, or give great advice. If you can start to compliment yourself daily, then you’re on track to a better you.
3. Accept compliments from others.
We’re all guilty of avoiding compliments. When someone says oh you look so nice today, just doing that awkward laugh and saying no but thanks. Stop doing that! Learn to take a breath and say well thank you. If someone’s complimenting you, it’s usually sincere, it’s not a joke and not something they did because it makes their life better. They could have gone on with their life never having complimented you but they didn’t, they felt the need to tell you that they like this about you.
Those are only 3 ways to love yourself I know, and I could list a lot more, but it’s not something you can just do in a day, it’s something that takes time, so get to work.
This post was written by my dear friend Noelle Kathleen Prideaux originally featured in the Odyssey Online. Noelle is an inspiration to the positivity movement, and she truly lives her message. More of her work can be found at https://www.theodysseyonline.com/@noelleprideaux