We all struggle with self-love. How do you love yourself? We think it's by stuffing our faces with chocolates, buying that dress that we desire and giving us all the material things that we want. No. Self-love is something that starts within. It's not something that you buy. It's not something that you earn. It is acceptance. Acceptance of who you are. Knowing that just being is enough. More than enough. No exceptions. We are all innately lovable. 

Self-love is important because it makes a huge difference in your interactions with others. It allows you to come from a place of power, a place of total acceptance, because when you accept yourself, as you are, you will be more accepting of others and their deemed flaws. 

Therefore, you have to believe that you are worthy of love and being loved. To attract love, you have to have love. Like attracts like, love begets more love. Therefore, stop looking for love in all the wrong places. We all know that old tired refrain, as we still seemingly seem to be attracted to all that cannot help us. 

Instead, it's better to take a moment to ground yourself and look in the mirror. Look at yourself in the mirror and say: 

"I love you",  

"You are lovable" 

Release all those untruths. For example, rejection, what does it make you feel? Not enough. It makes you feel like you're not enough. So, release that. Trick your brain, even if you don't believe it at this minute. Decide to say it to yourself whenever you see your reflection in the mirror. 

 Tell yourself  

"You are lovable",  

"You are enough"  

and sooner than you think that truth will sink in. Your brain will comprehend and accept that message, and it will be like a new dawn. You will just love yourself, not because of what you've achieved in life or how you look. You will begin to love your true self. When you start loving yourself you will start doing all the right things to maintain your physique, your mental and spiritual health. You will make the right choices because you will be coming from a position of strength, knowing innately that you are enough.  

We all say "oh I'm enough" but most of us really don't underwrite it with our actions, our words, our thoughts, our feelings. Learn to fall in love with yourself, for when you do, you will begin healing. You will become whole again. 

Nurture yourself by regularly saying that you love yourself just as you are. You need to believe it. You need to see that you are deeply lovable. Then you will also be fully accepting in receiving love from others. Recognise that you are indeed lovable just as you are. Believe that Love is surrounding you at all times. It's an experience that starts within you. You cannot love another if you hold no love for yourself.  

Nurture it by falling in love with yourself and understand that love is within you. When you love yourself deeply, by default you will love others without expectations, with full acceptance. Release all that negative associations that stop you from feeling and believing that you are indeed lovable. I dare you to start a lifelong romance with yourself, today. 

If you love yourself, you love others. If you hate yourself, you hate others - Osho 

Everything starts with you. Therefore, decide to embrace yourself with unconditional acceptance and love. This will help you to foster positive feelings towards yourself which will allow you to view others in a more positive light, because when you are full of love everything looks better. 

Love yourself first. So, you know what you deserve - Lucille Ball 

It is important to hold yourself in high regard and hold the expectation that you are deserving of the good life. This self-love will allow you to establish and maintain healthy boundaries which will strengthen your self-respect.  

Ever loved someone so much you would do anything for them? Yeah, well, make that someone yourself and do whatever the hell you want - Harvey Spencer 

Understand that it is not selfish to put yourself first, as it is indicative of self-care and understanding that you, only you are accountable for your well-being and that nobody can live your life for you, so make the most of your earthly sojourn by living wholeheartedly. 

Falling in love with yourself first doesn't make you vain or selfish-it makes you indestructible - Anonymous 

Self-love equates to knowing you are enough and that in itself is the most powerful knowledge to get you through life living your truth, without kowtowing to others' expectations.  

Work on being in love with the person in the mirror who has been through so much but is still standing - Anonymous 

Do not be disparaging towards yourself in any shape or form as You are all you have to get you to that good place. So be your number one fan by heaping love, respect and goodwill onto yourself so that you can have the necessary faith in yourself to get through the difficult bits in life.  

Not everyone you love is gonna love you back, that's why it's important to love yourself - Anonymous 

When you love yourself, you effectively have your own approval which will allow you to love others without expectation as you will understand that when you experience unrequited love that it is not a reflection of your worth but simply the exercise of their free will. Next, please.