Self-Love and What It Means (2024)

Posted: February 12, 2020

Self-Love and What It Means (1)

What is self-love?

Before a person is able to practice it, first we need to understand what it means.

Self-love is a state of appreciation for oneself that grows from actions that support our physical, psychological and spiritual growth. Self-love means having a high regard for your own well-being and happiness. Self-love means taking care of your own needs and not sacrificing your well-being to please others. Self-love means not settling for less than you deserve.

Self-love can mean something different for each person because we all have many different ways to take care of ourselves. Figuring out what self-love looks like for you as an individual is an important part of your mental health.

What does self-love mean to you?

For starters, it can mean:

  • Talking to and about yourself with love
  • Prioritizing yourself
  • Giving yourself a break from self-judgement
  • Trusting yourself
  • Being true to yourself
  • Being nice to yourself
  • Setting healthy boundaries
  • Forgiving yourself when you aren’t being true or nice to yourself

For many people, self-love is another way to say self-care. To practice self-care, we often need to go back to the basics and

  • Listen to our bodies
  • Take breaks from work and move/stretch.
  • Put the phone down and connect to yourself or others, or do something creative.
  • Eating healthily, but sometimes indulge in your favorite foods.

Self-love means accepting yourself as you are in this very moment for everything that you are. It means accepting your emotions for what they are and putting your physical, emotional and mental well-being first.

How and Why to Practice Self Love

So now we know that self-love motivates you to make healthy choices in life. When you hold yourself in high esteem, you're more likely to choose things that nurture your well-being and serve you well. These things may be in the form of eating healthy, exercising or having healthy relationships.

Ways to practice self-love include:

  • Becoming mindful. People who have more self-love tend to know what they think, feel, and want.
  • Taking actions based on need rather than want. By staying focused on what you need, you turn away from automatic behavior patterns that get you into trouble, keep you stuck in the past, and lessen self-love.
  • Practicing good self-care. You will love yourself more when you take better care of your basic needs. People high in self-love nourish themselves daily through healthy activities, like sound nutrition, exercise, proper sleep, intimacy and healthy social interactions.
  • Making room for healthy habits. Start truly caring for yourself by mirroring that in what you eat, how you exercise, and what you spend time doing. Do stuff, not to “get it done” or because you “have to,” but because you care about you.

Finally, to practice self-love, start by being kind, patient, gentle and compassionate to yourself, the way you would with someone else that you care about.

- Written byJeffrey Borenstein, M.D., President & CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. This blog post also appears on theGravity Blankets Blog.

Find more articles containing tips and advice by clicking here.

Donate Now

Donations are welcome

100% of every dollar donated for research is invested in our research grants. Our operating expenses are covered by separate foundation grants.

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, our Tax ID # is 31-1020010.

Self-Love and What It Means (2024)

FAQs

What is the best answer to self-love? ›

Loving yourself means having a good understanding of both your strengths and weaknesses. Narcissism is generally associated with poor mental health. But high self-love has a positive effect on your well-being, mental fitness, and your relationships.

What is self-love and what does it mean? ›

Self-love means having a high regard for your own well-being and happiness. Self-love means taking care of your own needs and not sacrificing your well-being to please others.

Why is self-love so powerful? ›

Self-love can be powerful for various reasons, ranging from its potential relationship benefits to its impacts on self-esteem. Some of the ways self-love may be important include: It may promote self-confidence. It may reduce the fear of negative judgment from others.

What are 5 ways to love yourself? ›

Here are 5 simple acts you can practice each day to bring a little more self-love into your life.
  • Change your self talk. ...
  • Take care of your physical state. ...
  • Adopt an attitude of gratitude. ...
  • Reconnect with yourself. ...
  • Be the energy you want to attract.

What is the greatest form of self-love? ›

Discipline is the highest form of self-love.

What is self-love in one word? ›

an exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself. “self-love that shut out everyone else” synonyms: narcism, narcissism. type of: conceit, conceitedness, vanity.

What is a strong message for myself? ›

I am strong. My confidence is beautiful. I am imperfect but I'm perfectly me. My smile can make someone feel better.

How do you express self-love in words? ›

45 inspirational quotes that'll have you feeling yourself
  • “Talk to yourself like you would talk to someone you love.” — ...
  • “When you say 'yes' to others, make sure you are not saying 'no' to yourself.” — ...
  • “It's not my responsibility to be beautiful.
Nov 30, 2023

What is the key to self-love? ›

Become mindful. People who have more self-love tend to know what they think, feel, and want. They are mindful of who they are and act on this knowledge, rather than on what others want for them. Act on what you need rather than what you want.

What does self-love attract? ›

Loving yourself also makes you more positive and more attractive to positive people. Your relationships and encounters are a mirror reflection of where you're at on your self-love journey. If you're falling for people who don't treat you right or aren't available, you need to love on yourself a little more.

How to actually love yourself? ›

Self-trust: Believe in your ability to handle life's ups and downs. Self-compassion: Be kind to yourself, especially when times are tough. Self-respect: Honor your worth by setting healthy boundaries. Self-acceptance: Embrace who you are, including the parts you don't find perfect.

How do you answer what do you love about yourself? ›

100+ things to love about yourself today and into the future
  1. I can embrace change.
  2. I'm resilient.
  3. I have an appreciation for nature.
  4. I have a great sense of humor.
  5. I am honest.
  6. I'm a supportive best friend.
  7. I'm a great listener.
  8. I'm independent.

What are the four types of self-love? ›

There are 5 kinds of self-love: physical self-love; emotional self-love; mental and intellectual self-love; social self-love; and spiritual self-love. Below are examples of mine that I am committing to right now. Do take note they are constantly evolving and that is the exciting part of it.

What is the best way to show self-love? ›

Spend quality time with yourself.

Learn to appreciate your own company by taking time to do things that feel good and make you happy. Whether it's pursuing a hobby, meditating, going for a hike, or taking yourself out to the movies, spend time with yourself doing the things you enjoy.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dr. Pierre Goyette

Last Updated:

Views: 5874

Rating: 5 / 5 (50 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dr. Pierre Goyette

Birthday: 1998-01-29

Address: Apt. 611 3357 Yong Plain, West Audra, IL 70053

Phone: +5819954278378

Job: Construction Director

Hobby: Embroidery, Creative writing, Shopping, Driving, Stand-up comedy, Coffee roasting, Scrapbooking

Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.