💗 How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you 💗 Happy weekend APPICS ...

... fam. After several weeks of complete darkness, grey and rainy days, the sun finally came out again and it totally changed my mood. The winter months aren’t the most beautiful here in Germany and Switzerland especially if you are a sun child 🌞 like me but being forced to stay inside and learn new skills isn’t bad at all. It is just a matter of perception.

Today I want to dive deeper into the topic of self-love as we live our daily lives and don’t pay much attention to self-care. I mean, I didn’t do it for a very long time so I figured others are struggling with it too.

For many people, the concept of self-love might conjure images of tree-hugging hippies or cheesy self-help books. But according to psychology studies, alchemists, shamans and gurus, self-love and -compassion are key for mental health and well-being, keeping depression and anxiety at bay.

Everyone of us is special and we deserve to be loved! Not only by those around us but by the most important person in our life — OURSELVES!
We sometimes face serious challenges and practicing self-love can turn out to be easier said than done. Practicing self-love pushes through our limiting beliefs so we can live a life that truly shines.🌟

Here are some powerful ways to practice self-love →

1. Stop comparing yourself! In times of social media it is extremely hard to express your own creativity when there is always someone who seems to be better, more beautiful and smarter than you. But remember that nobody has the experience, voice, soul and unique energy that you have! A lot of influencers even pretend to be someone they aren’t. Photoshopped pictures, perfect relationships, free material things, surgeries etc…. But does this lead to a life of happiness? I don’t think so. We should strive to become better but only than the person we were yesterday. Embrace and love the things that make you different
2. Forgive yourself. The feeling of regret stops us from moving forward because it holds us back in the past. Learn to accept your mistakes and do your best to never repeat them again. We are here on planet earth in order to learn and not to be perfect.
3. Make 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. Each morning you have the choice to become better or stay as you are.
4. Celebrate your wins no matter how big or small. Being proud of yourself and celebrating wins will automatically enhance your motivation and boost your confidence.
5. Learn to say no. You spent enough time as a yes-sayer doing things you actually don’t like doing. Be strong in your decision and say no if you disagree on something!

Obviously, there are many more ways to practice self-love. You can choose between mental, physical and spiritual practices but these 5 steps are great to begin with. When you start to love yourself, people around you will feel a shift in your energy and will treat you the same way.

Happy holidays!
Much love, Soldier 🤍