’Self-love’ is an issue for many women and they may not even know it. They go from one relationship to the next, each time giving more and more of themselves and getting very little in return. They wonder what they are doing wrong, and the answer is always the same: your relationships WILL NOT succeed unless you love yourself FIRST. When you love yourself, you demand the highest levels of respect and treatment from others. Your love for yourself will not allow you to accept less than what you know you deserve. Once you begin loving yourself, not only will your relationships improve, but you will also be comfortable enough with yourself to realize that you do not need to be in a relationship to be happy.

To begin a path to ‘self-love’, you must first begin with self-acceptance. You must learn to accept yourself for who you are at this very moment. Instead of basing your feelings for yourself on some ideal; whether it’s your ideal weight, job, or relationship, you must first learn to accept who you are now, and love those things about yourself that you hope to change in the future.

Criticism and negativity are the enemies of ‘self-love’. When you are overly critical of yourself and hold on to negative feelings, you will remain stuck in a cycle that is being driven by your own negative thoughts. Stop judging yourself and blaming yourself for past failures. As humans we all make mistakes, but by dwelling on these mistakes we give them power over our futures.  Until you silence this internal negativity, and let go of the past, by showing yourself UNCONDITIONAL love, you will never be able to heal yourself and move forward.

There will always be things that we want to change about ourselves, and there’s nothing wrong with that, especially if making those changes will affect us in positive ways. The issue is with the method that you use to make those changes. In order to begin a path to true ‘self-love’ and acceptance, and the positive changes associated with it, show yourself love by avoiding harsh self-criticism; nourishing and caring for your body through exercise and a proper diet; taking time for yourself when necessary; using positive affirmations and avoiding negative thoughts and behaviors.

Loving yourself can end the pain that comes from lost relationships, low self-esteem, a troubled past, abuse and more. With a love for yourself, you are able to put the past behind you and move forward without fear. Instead of judging yourself, learn to love yourself. Appreciate yourself for who you are and know that you deserve only the best that life has to offer!