Self-love isn’t selfish is a term we’re very familiar with but for some reason, it’s still difficult to accept and believe. Why is that? I think a lot of us were raised believing that putting yourself first is wrong.
We’re taught to be selfless and always think of others before ourselves. And while those qualities are important, they shouldn’t come at the expense of our own happiness and well-being.
When you think of the term “self-love,” what comes to mind? For many people, the first thing that pops into their heads is the idea of being selfish. They think that if they focus on their mental health and their own happiness, they are greedy and unfair to everyone else.
This could not be further from the truth! In today’s blog post, we are going to talk about 9 reasons why self-love is important and should never be viewed as selfish.
What Self-Love Is And Isn’t?
Self-love is not selfish. There are plenty of negative thoughts around the idea that loving others and loving yourself can’t coexist but I’m here to tell you that’s a lie. It’s not about being self-absorbed or narcissistic and it’s not only about physical appearance either.
So what is self-love? Besides stating the coined phrase, you can’t pour from an empty, at its core, self-love means taking care of yourself emotionally and mentally. It’s about putting yourself first when it comes to your own needs, happiness, and well-being. A positive view of self-love includes having an important relationship with yourself.
And contrary to popular belief, self-love is the opposite of selfishness. When you love yourself, you are able to pour that love into others and create meaningful relationships. You can’t give what you don’t have and if you’re running on empty, how can you expect to fill someone else up?
Self-love is also not static. It’s something that you have to continuously work on and practice every day. Just like any relationship, the relationship you have with yourself takes effort to maintain. So if you’re looking for some immediate gratification, self-love is an ongoing commitment that is every bit worth it.
How Do You Practice Self-Love Without Being Selfish?
Here are a few suggestions:
– Set boundaries with others
– Learn to say “no”
– Make time for yourself every day
– Do things that make you happy
– Surround yourself with positive people
9 Proven Times Self Love Isn’t Selfish, It’s Important
1. When you love yourself, you are happier and more content
This means that you don’t need to rely on others for your happiness. A little love for yourself creates joy and contentment from within.
And when you’re happy, those positive vibes will rub off on those around you. The most important person is you and the only way your relationship with yourself can maintain is if you are at the top of the list.
2. When you love yourself, you have more to give
If you’re running on empty, you have nothing to give to others like your best friend, partner, or children. When you make sure your own needs are met, you can pour that love into your relationships with others.
Plus, when you’re happy and fulfilled, people are more inclined to be drawn to you and experience your love of others.
3. It’s not a crime to take care of yourself.
There are a ton of terrible things you can do but taking care of yourself isn’t one of them. In fact, it’s actually really important!
You deserve to put yourself first and you shouldn’t feel guilty about it and you know what else, the entire universe will be okay if you devote time to yourself.
4. It serves as a motivator to others around you to take care of themselves as well.
When others see you thriving and being intentional about your happiness, it can inspire them to do the same. In fact, it might even make them realize that they deserve to love themselves too.
5. It allows you to make better lifestyle choices
When you think of your own health and wellbeing first, it allows you to make better choices for yourself. If you’re not taking care of yourself, how can you expect to be at your best? Furthermore, how can you lead by example and inspire others to do the same if you’re not even taking care of yourself?
6. It helps you deal with difficult times
When we love ourselves, we are better equipped to deal with difficult times. You’re more resilient and adaptable when things get extremely tough because of the healthy boundaries and coping mechanisms you’ve established. If we don’t have a strong foundation of self-love, it’s easy to crumble when life gets hard.
But when you love yourself, you know that you can handle whatever comes your way because you’re strong and capable. You know that you’ll get through a hard time because your emotional health is intact.
7. It allows us to attract healthy relationships
This one is huge. When we love ourselves, we naturally attract healthy relationships into our lives. This is because we become a magnet for the things we want most in life.
So if you want a healthy relationship, start by having a healthy relationship with yourself first! Unconditional love for ourselves is the best way to attract amazing things from others.
8. It’s easier to pinpoint fulfillment and unfulfillment in our lives
When we love ourselves, it becomes much easier to see what’s lacking in our lives. Specifically, the lack of self-love that’s missing. This is because we have a clear idea of what we want and need. We’re also more likely to take action steps towards achieving our goals.
By the same token, one of the greatest gifts of self-love being reinforced in your life is that it allows you to see when you’re being fulfilled. You can better appreciate the things that make you happy because you know your worth.
9. It improves your mental and physical health
When we love ourselves, it shows up in our physical health as well. This is because when we’re taking care of ourselves mentally, it spills over into our physical well-being. We’re more likely to eat healthy, exercise, and get enough sleep when we love ourselves.
The Best Version Of Yourself Is Enhanced With Self-Love
I can relate to trying new things and thinking, “How will this benefit me?” It took realizing I had low self-esteem to understand that the self-love piece was lacking.
I know a lot of people that simply believe it’s a time sucker and that there are other things they could be doing that would better serve them. I’m here to tell you that self-love is one of the most important stances you can take in your life- no matter how much “free time” you think you have.
So, give yourself some fresh flowers today because you absolutely deserve them. Which self-love reason resonated with you the most?
