Do you love yourself? Stop for a moment and really think about that question. Whether the answer is yes or no, it is important to realize that self love is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves in this life. Without self love, where is our confidence coming from? Our drive? How can we as people hope to help others, achieve our goals, or find peace in our lives when we can’t do something as simple as like who we are. Up until recently, I had problems with self hatred. Finally after all this time, ridding myself of this self hatred and replacing it with a love for who I am has allowed me to work better, be proud of myself, and attain a level of confidence that makes me feel unstoppable. Here are three tips that I’ve used to help me love myself more.

1.) One of the first things we have to do in order to love ourselves is to realize that we are the key to our happiness. To much of the time we depend on material possessions or other people to make us happy, and while there is nothing wrong with things or people enhancing your happiness, the base and largest part of our happiness should come from ourselves. One way to start making yourself happy is to take yourself somewhere that you really like and spend some time there by yourself, treat yourself. For me it’s nature that I like to be, so I always take some time to go to the park by myself and just appreciate it peace.

2.) Another way to love yourself is to write down three things you like about yourself everyday, write them down on a piece of paper and put it somewhere where you can see it or carry it around with you. Whenever you feel down about yourself during the day, thinking about all the things you don’t like about yourself, look at the list and remember those three things that you do like about yourself.

3.) Lastly, try new things, go out and experience something new for the first time, just with yourself. Be the first person you know to try something new and judge the worth of it on your own. For new opinions with the only voice that matters, your own, and view your new discovery as just that, a unique discovery that you made, and be proud of your own judgement of what ever it is.

The process of self loving is a long one, not a quick fix, it will be hard at times, but all we can do is keep on trying again and getting back up. If you fall, remember the best support is always with your, yourself.