The Importance of Loving Yourself ...

I know, I know. This sounds super cliché, but it’s the simplest way to say that you are already everything you need to be! Yes, please continue to set and reach goals for your life. Go to school, work toward your dreams, be kind, but just remember, you are already perfect just the way you are. You’re are already there, girl. You just need to start living your life like it.

When are you going to get happy? There are a lot of things in life that we think will make us happy. Finally dating your crush, getting into that “perfect” size, maybe working at your dream job? These things might make you feel good, but they probably aren’t going to make you happy. A good way to practice feeling happy is being grateful. Be happy with what you are doing and have, right now, at this moment. If you can remember to do that, every day will have many happy moments.

It’s hard not to look at other people and think they are living a better life. Someone may look they have more friends, a happier family, nicer things or a more interesting life than you. They may seem like they have everything together and life is perfect, but I promise you it’s not. Everyone has problems, everyone is dealing with something. Try to remember that comparing yourself to others doesn’t change anything, it only makes you feel worse.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to be healthy, look your best and enjoy feeling attractive. But these things are not who you are. It may be easy to think that if you just looked a certain way, your life would be better. We’ve all seen the hot mess that comes out of botched plastic surgery and eating disorders. Do you think the people who do this to themselves are happy? Of course not. Your outward beauty doesn’t define who you are as a person.

Sure, money can make your life more comfortable, but it doesn’t make you a better person. Buying cars, clothes and houses may make you feel like your life is good, but that’s not what makes it good. Can stuff make you feel loved, needed and like you are making an impact on someone’s life? What you have is not who you are. Don’t confuse status symbols as a replacement for precious moments and people in your life.

There are definitely some benefits to pursuing accomplishments in life. Getting your degree, getting promoted at work, saving up enough money to buy a house or a car, all of these things can give you a sense of worth. Your accomplishments help you build a life for yourself. However, they are not your whole life - and they are certainly not what makes you worthy. When you think that you are only as good as what you do, or how much you do, you sell yourself short.

Have you ever thought that if you just found the perfect mate that you would finally be happy with your life? Being in love can be so wonderful, it’s easy to believe that all your problems will just disappear if you find the right person. The truth is, if you can’t love yourself, you can’t fully love someone else. No one can “complete” you. You must be a whole person on your own before you can be happy with someone else.

What do you say to yourself all day long? When you look in the mirror? When someone compliments you? Think carefully about how you talk to yourself. If you are putting yourself down all the time, critical of your looks or anything else, it is seriously affecting your self-worth. We are all what we believe about ourselves. Where do you think true confidence comes from? Believing you are the best! Stand your sacred ground, you are perfect just the way you are.

When someone is authentic, when they are truly content with being themselves, it’s hard not to notice. Someone who is comfortable in their own skin and doesn’t have anything to prove is like a magnet to others. People want what they’ve got. They want to know why they find it so easy to be themselves. If you can reach this point, you can help others get there, too.

Sometimes we want to think that life will go on forever. If you are going through a hard time in your life, it can feel that way sometimes. Think back to last year, or even five years ago. Doesn’t it seem like yesterday? Even though it feels like you have all the time in the world, all you really have is right now. Waiting for tomorrow to start changing the way you feel about yourself and your life is a waste of time. All you have is this moment, so start living in it.

Trying to handle all the stress in your life can really wear you down. Maybe you think making more money, being more attractive or finding that perfect partner will bring all your problems to a crashing halt. Thinking like this will only make things worse for yourself. You can spend your whole life trying to achieve all these things, and while they may make some improvements, they won’t make you happy. Being happy is a choice that you make. All you have is what you have right now, at this moment.

All you can do is be grateful for what you’ve got right now. Make good, healthy decisions to improve yourself, but remember that if you can’t be happy with who you are right now, you won’t be happy with who you become when you fulfill your deepest desires. If you can learn to do this, when those amazing people and moments do come into your life, you will truly enjoy them - and know that you deserve them!