I have discovered that there is only one thing that cures all problems, and that is: love yourself. When people begin to love themselves, each day they love their lives more, everything improves in an incredible way. They feel better. They get the jobs they want. They have the money they need. The positive relationships improve, or negative ones dissolve and new ones begin.
Loving yourself is a wonderful adventure, it’s like learning to fly. Imagine if we all had the power to fly as we pleased… How exciting that would be! Let’s start loving ourselves now. 12 Tips to learn to love yourself:
1. Leave criticism. Criticism never changes anything. Refuse to criticize yourself. Accept yourself as you are. Everyone changes. When you criticize yourself, your changes are negative. When you approve of yourself, the changes are positive.
2. Forgive yourself. Let the past go. You did the best you could at the time in the understanding, with the awareness and knowledge that you had. Now you are growing and changing, and you will live life differently.
3. Don’t be scared. Stop terrorizing yourself with your thoughts. It’s a terrible way to live. Find a mental image that gives you pleasure, and immediately change your frightening thought to a pleasant thought.
4. Be kind, gentle and patient. Be kind, gentle, and patient with yourself as you learn the new ways of thinking. Treat yourself like you would someone you truly love.
5. Be kind to your mind. Hating yourself is just hating your own thoughts. Don’t hate yourself for having the thoughts. Just change them gently and progressively.
6. Congratulate yourself. Criticism breaks the spirit. The congratulations encourage you to continue. Compliment yourself as much as possible. Say how well you are doing with every little thing.
7. Stay. Find ways to support yourself. Be strong to ask for help when you need it. Allow your friends to help you.
8. Be gentle with your negative patterns. Recognize that you have created them to satisfy a need. Now you are finding new and positive ways to meet those needs. So lovingly release the old negative patterns.
9. Take care of your body. Learn about nutrition. What kind of fuel does your body need for optimal energy and vitality? Learn about exercise. What kind of exercise does your body like? Appreciate and revere the temple in which we live.
10. Do a mirror job. Look into your eyes frequently in the mirror. Express out loud this growing feeling of love that you feel for yourself. Forgive yourself while looking in the mirror. Talk to your parents while looking in the mirror. Forgive them, too. At least once a day, for example, “I love you, I really love you!”
11. Love yourself. Do it now. Don’t wait until you’re well, or lose weight, or get a new job, or find a new relationship. Start now and do the best you can.
12. Have fun. Remember the things that made you happy as a child. Incorporate them into your life now. Find a way to have fun with everything you do. Let yourself express the joy of living. Smile. laugh.
Rejoice, and the universe will rejoice with you!
By Louise L. Hay