Here’s the difference between self-care and self-love
Knowing the difference between self-care and self-love is important because a lot of times people confuse the two. They think if they practice good hygiene and wear nice clothes that is self-love.
This is not true at all. Self-care is part of self-love, but it is important to have both. So, let’s first talk about self-love.
What is self-love?
How much do you love yourself? This question may seem trivial or naive. However, self-love influences how we feel about others and how we live with them.
Self-love forms in our developmental stages, in relationships with significant people, most often parents.
Self-love is expressed through feelings of well-being and satisfaction. It allows you to experience the joy of living, to esteem yourself as a person, and to be respected.
It also allows you to be able to reassure yourself and take comfort when losses occur or when criticisms or difficulties arise while preserving the image you have of yourself.
If you understand self-love, it’s going to help you change your life because you will not only be dealing with external self-care, but you are also incorporating self-love.
How to practice self-love?
Establishing self-love can be a long journey, but it can be a vital step to improving your mental health and happiness.
The easiest way to practice self-love is to start reciting positive affirmations to change the way that you think about yourself.
You need to become aware of your thoughts about yourself and deliberately change the affirmations that you recite on a day-to-day basis.
This can be difficult to do because many of us are conditioned to say negative things about ourselves.
Many people have been wounded in childhood and believe negative things about themselves. So, they do not love themselves.
- Forgive yourself: How can you expect to move forward with your life if you are blocked by anger and resentment? It’s simple, you can’t. So it is high time that you forgive yourself. Forgive yourself and forgive others. That doesn’t mean you should forget or condone their behavior. Just forgive.
This is because when you forgive other people for their bad deeds, you are giving yourself permission to move on, to get rid of a heavyweight so that you can focus on yourself, on the positive things that you are doing, and on the love you deserve. This is a very difficult, but important step.
- Take back your power: Let go of the victimhood mindset and take back control of your life. No more blaming others for all your troubles and blaming them for every negative situation in your life.
It’s time to take back control of your life, your mind, your body. From the moment you take control of your life, then you enhance your capacity to love yourself fully.
- Surround yourself with positivity: Surround yourself with positive people, people who will allow you to positively assert yourself.
Surround yourself with people who truly love, support, and respect you. If you don’t have these people around, find them. Look for them and don’t stop until you find them because you deserve the best.
What is self-care?
Self-care is all the mental, physical and emotional care that you give yourself to take care of your body, mind, and spirit.
You can think of self-care as any action that you take to preserve your physical, spiritual, and emotional health. This might include meditating, eating a healthy diet, drinking water, and exercising.
How to practice self-care
- Exercise regularly. Burn calories and tone your muscles a few times a week for at least 30 minutes. The better physical shape will give you more energy, strengthen your ability to take on challenges, and boost your self-confidence.
- Explore your passions. Whether through volunteering, a hobby, or a second part-time job, satisfying your curiosity and creativity will give you a greater sense of community. You will derive greater happiness and a better quality of life.
- Make everyday special. There is always a way to make a day special. Take the time to watch an episode of your favorite TV series, take a walk in the park, or sink into a bubble bath. If you have a little extra cash, treat yourself to a reward that isn’t food, like a manicure or costume jewelry.
Self-love and self-care is important
Life can be tough and can tire us mentally and physically, but if we love ourselves and constantly rejuvenate we will also be prepared for what the future holds.
