The most important person in your life is the one looking back at you from the mirror. If you do not love that person, then loving others is going to be very difficult. This is because if you are not happy with who you are, where you are at in life, or what you are doing then helping others to feel good about themselves is going to be beyond your capacity.

You can start by examining the situation that you are currently experiencing so that you can identify what it is that you do not like about yourself. From being too heavy to not feeling like you are getting ahead to being in a relationship that is not what you expected there are many reasons why you may not be happy with yourself.

The good news is that you can learn to love yourself again. All it takes is a little focus and effort on a regular basis for you to re-discover the best of you. You will need to take a few moments each day to work on loving yourself, but in the long run it will be more than worth the effort.

“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.” – Lucille Ball

List What You Love About Yourself

There are good things about you, it just takes a little focus to see what they are and appreciate them. Remember, when you are disappointed in others for their behavior, it may be a reflection of the disappointment you feel about yourself. What people see in others is often masked by their own expectations, feelings, and patience. By showing yourself a little love, you will also demonstrate that those around you.

Forgive Yourself

This may be a tough one, but it is something that you will need to do before you can move on with your life. No matter what you have done in the past, it is important that you let go of it by forgiving yourself. This does not mean that you will forget what has happened, but that you will not waste more time assigning blame when instead you should be moving on. Before you can move forward, you have to let go of what is holding you back.

Don’t Worry About the Approval of Others

This is a common mantra for most people, but the truth is that many place the approval of others very highly in their lives. This is true even when they are not sure what would garner their approval. Instead, you should take the time to do what is right for you regardless of what others will think. Do not wait for someone else to give you permission to live the life you want, go ahead and do that for yourself.

Stay Away from the Negative

You’ll want to keep a good distance from those who bring you down. Those who do not respect you should not be a part of your life if you can help it. So, surround yourself with positive influences so that you will feel happy, inspired, and joyous. There is no time for negativity in your life, so stay away from those who bring it.

Never Quit

The only real failing in life is when people stop following their dreams, so do not give up on them. If you have always wanted to publish a novel, climb a mountain, become a millionaire, or have some other goal, do not quit. You may need to put it aside for a bit to take care of something that has come up, but your dreams are only going to stay in your head and never become reality until you set about to accomplish them. So, be persistent and always follow your goals until they are achieved and then set out to accomplish even more of your dreams.

Be Grateful

Every day that you are alive and can do some good on this Earth is a day to be grateful for what you have. Not everyone gets the chance to fulfill their potential, so be grateful every day and use that time to pursue your dreams. Plus, be mindful of those in your life and how fortunate you are to have them around.

Believe In Yourself

Everyday there are stories of people who go above and beyond the abilities that they believe they have. You are just as capable of exceeding expectations as anyone else, so don’t let that hold you back when pursuing your dreams. It is important that you give yourself the best chance for success and believe that it can be accomplished.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

Look Within for Inspiration

While you can gather ideas from what others have accomplished, it is generally best to use your own inner vision when it comes to achieving your goals. For example, if you want to become an author, the stories you write about should come from you, your experiences, and your own vision.

Know That You Will Make Mistakes

As a human being, you are going to make mistakes and sometimes things will not turn out the way that you expect. This is going to be part of your life, so embrace your mistakes and learn the lessons from them to try again. The old story of Thomas Edison inventing the light bulb after failing over 10,000 times is a good lesson for anyone who believes that making a mistake stops your dreams from coming true. Far from it, mistakes are the lessons needed in the creation process.

Give Yourself Gifts

Every once in a while you should give yourself gifts just to make you feel special. You can make the gift a small one such as soy candles to add a bit of ambiance to your home. Of course, you can always get a gift basket that is filled with your favorite goodies. It’s good to treat yourself every once in a while, so when you are feeling a bit down ordering a small, simple gift is one way you can shake the blues.

When you discover how to love yourself again, you open up a new world of possibilities. Only by loving yourself can you go forward and achieve your dreams.

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection” – Buddha

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