Here are 30 Self-love Ways because learning to love yourself can be difficult, and it takes courage to do so. However, it is the most powerful and important thing you can do in your life. A few years ago, loving myself was so difficult when I was so insecure about myself, and my life tended to revolve around pleasing other people.
All I ever wanted was to fit i,n and I don’t want to be alone. It took me years and a lot of courage to love myself, and that’s when everything changed. Here are the 30 ways to practice self-love that helped me, and I hope they can help you too on your journey to loving yourself.
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1. Positive Affirmations
Whenever you experience self-doubt, try doing positive affirmations to help you combat negative self-talk and be able to rebuild your self-confidence. Repeat it every day until it finally instills in your mind and heart.
Here are some that you can use:
– I love myself
– I am beautiful
– I am unique
– I am worthy of love
– I can do this
– I am strong
– I am confident
2. Surround Yourself With Positive People
“Surround yourself with good people; surround yourself with positivity and people who are going to challenge you to make you better.”
– ALI KRIEGER
Surrounding yourself with positive influences can inspire you to be better. Find people who have your best interests at heart, who will be your support when you fail, and who will be there to cheer you on when you succeed.
They will inspire and motivate you to make a good decision in your life. We also tend to be influenced by the people around us, by constantly being with positive people, no doubt that you too will think positively.
3. Leave All Toxic Relationships
“Be with someone who protects your heart, not someone who tries to destroy it.”
– bryan burden
I know that it’s hard to leave a certain person in your life, especially when they are a huge part of it, or when you feel like you only have them because being alone is scary. However, holding on to it will only prevent personal growth.
Don’t force yourself to stay, especially when they make you feel worthless and lonely. Leaving them will show your personal strength that you have the courage to leave and stand on your own. You are worth so much more than you think; you deserve to find people who will treasure and love you.
4. Stop Comparing Yourself To Other People
It’s easy to find someone to compare ourselves to, especially when we see that they are better than you in certain aspects. However, it will only make you feel bad about yourself, and it will only steal joy from your life.
In the end, you have nothing to gain, and instead, you’ll lose your pride, passion, and dignity. It will only distract you from fulfillment and will make you waste your time on other people’s lives rather than focusing on your own. Always remember that you are unique and have a purpose in this world.
5. Take Care Of Your Body
Beautiful girl, take care of yourself. No one else knows what your soul needs.
– ashtong
When we have poor self-esteem, we tend not to value ourselves. Nevertheless, it’s important to make self–care a priority because taking care of your body can have a drastic impact on how you see yourself. It will make you feel good about yourself and will help you increase your self-confidence.
Also, taking care of your health will help in being able to handle the stress of life. With a strong body and a healthy mindset, you can address life problems properly, rather than addressing them with panic or worry.
Related: 27 Beauty Secret Tips and Tricks You Need To Know
6. Be Proud Of Yourself Even If It Is A Small Achievement
Take pride in yourself. Be your own person.
– jack lambert
It’s easy to beat ourselves up when we don’t accomplish our goals. We often spend too much time dwelling on our mistakes and what we could have done differently. However, one of the most powerful self love ways is learning to believe in your own greatness—even when things don’t go as planned. Mistakes are a normal part of life; in fact, they often teach us the most valuable lessons.
Feeling proud of yourself, even for small wins, can motivate you to keep moving forward. On the other hand, ignoring your efforts can rob you of happiness and self-worth. That’s why, whenever you feel discouraged, remind yourself to be proud. Believe in your journey—you still have so many accomplishments to look forward to.
7. Treat Others The Way You Want To Be Treated
You must recognize your own value—don’t allow others to disrespect you. However, take a moment to reflect: Are you treating them with respect, too? If not, then the change has to begin with you. One of the most important self love ways is holding yourself accountable while also setting healthy boundaries.
On the other hand, if someone continuously walks over you and you’re emotionally exhausted, it’s time to start asserting yourself. Trust me, I’ve been there—I know how scary it can feel. But you have to teach people how to treat you. Staying silent only tells them it’s okay. And if nothing changes despite your efforts, walk away. You deserve to be treated with respect, always.
8. Learn To Say No
“It’s only by saying “No” that you can concentrate on the things that are really important.”
– steve jobs
Saying “no” is difficult, especially when your main goal is to please everyone. I understand how hard it is when your biggest fear is rejection, and all you want is to fit in or feel like you belong. You worry about disappointing others, hurting their feelings, or being seen as rude. Deep down, you’re afraid that saying no might lead to being alone or unloved.
But one of the most powerful self-love ways is learning to honor your own needs without guilt. Before saying yes to anything, pause and ask yourself, “Is this really worth it?” You shouldn’t fear disappointing others if it means protecting your peace. Living for approval will never lead to real joy—it only keeps you stuck.
You are valuable, and your voice matters. At the end of the day, your opinion of yourself holds far more weight than what anyone else thinks. Choose yourself, even if it feels uncomfortable at first, because that’s where real freedom begins.
9. Start Your Day With Gratitude
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”
– robert brault
Start your day with gratitude, and you’ll notice a powerful shift in your mindset. Practicing thankfulness is one of the most underrated yet effective self-love ways to boost your emotional well-being. Try keeping a gratitude journal—each night, write down the things you’re grateful for, no matter how small they may seem. Whether it’s a warm cup of coffee, a kind message, or simply getting through the day, acknowledging these moments helps you reconnect with yourself and appreciate the life you’re living.
10. Share Your Blessings
There is something magical in helping people. Seeing their smiles will also make you smile, and it will increase your self-worth. It makes you see that you are a good person, that you are a part of someone else’s happiness. Sharing your blessings to other people is the perfect opportunity to show your gratefulness, and through it you made someone feel loved and cared for.
11. Don’t Always Seek Approval
“Care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner”
– laozi
Everyone will see you differently, and no matter how hard you try, you can’t please them all. Constantly seeking approval only fuels fear, because you start to shape your actions around how others might react or what they might say if they disagree with you.
Instead, one of the most empowering self-love ways is to follow your heart without apology. Do what truly matters to you and give it a chance. Don’t let anyone’s opinions kill your dreams. If you live for their approval, you might always wonder what could have happened if you had just believed in yourself.
You’ll never know unless you try—so have faith, take the leap, and trust that you are more capable than you think.
12. Forgive Yourself
“Choose, everyday to forgive yourself. You are human, flawed, and most of all worthy of love.”
– alison malee
If we want to make things right, we have to let go and forgive ourselves for our mistakes. Forgiving yourself can give you peace that can release you from your resentments. And the truth is, you can’t move forward in your life carrying the weight of your mistakes.
No one is perfect and we all make mistakes. However, mistakes do not define you. It just takes courage to see that they are opportunities to learn more about yourselves.
13. Read Books
I highly suggest reading inspirational books because I found that by reading books especially personal development books. It can uplift your day as it guides you to enhance your life
Must-read books:
– Good Vibes, Good Life: How Self-Love Is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness
– Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts
14. Don’t Always Say Sorry
“Truly saying sorry is never easy to do, and when you are, you just hope it’s not too late.”
– justin tranter
The only time that you should say sorry is when you really meant it. The word sorry is not for casual conversation because saying it too much loses its meaning when it might really matter. Most importantly, it can cause you unnecessary guilt that can put you down.
15. Socialize
“Life is beautiful not because things we see or do. Life is beautiful because of the people we meet.”
– simon sinek
Put yourself out there and socialize. Meet new people and just enjoy the moment. I know how hard this is for introverts since I’m an introvert myself. There are even times where I would just act like I’m busy to avoid talking to people since I’m super shy.
But, just once in a while, try to free yourself from your comfort zone. I tried it and unexpectedly I was able to enjoy. I even met new friends and we are still going strong.
16. Express Yourself
Don’t be afraid of what others might think of you, just be yourself and express yourself freely.
Start by having a voice and speak up about how you feel in any situation. Other people wouldn’t know and might take you for granted unless you speak up.
However, when speaking up there will always be the fear of hurting someone else’s feelings. This is why when trying to get your point across respect other people’s feelings as well.
17. Never Give Up
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
– theodore roosevelt
Mistakes are a valuable lesson in life and every winner loses. Don’t always look at it as a negative or else it will put you down. Instead, think of it as a way to start again but with a new valuable lesson that you’ve discovered.
On your journey, there would always be happiness and pain. There will be a lot of times that you want to give up badly. However, think about it you have reached so far out why stop now? Keep pushing and never give up because a quitter will never win.
18. Follow Your Passion
“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”
– ferdinand foch
Life is too short to not follow your passion. Don’t just settle for something you are unhappy about. Following your passion gives you a sense of purpose and it can make you happier. It helps you to move forward to achieve something far greater than you could ever imagine.
19. Ask Help
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Talk to your family or friends when you have problems, and If you feel like you’re at the breaking point don’t hesitate to seek professional help.
20. Give Yourself A Day Off
“Rest and be thankful.”
– william wadsworth
Don’t overwork yourself because it would only lead to stress and burnout. Don’t hesitate to take a break because you need it in order to reduce stress. Try to spend time or reconnect with your friends and family, it will help you return back to work while being more energized and focused.
21. Treat Yourself
“You have to treat yourself. Life is too short to deprive yourself of things.”
– nathalie emmanuel
When you achieve something even if it’s something small, treat yourself. What I do is when I accomplished something I would buy my favorite drink and just enjoy the moment. It’s because doing something nice for yourself can motivate you to keep up the hard work.
It’s hard to prioritize ourselves because of our busy lives, but doing so can help in reducing your stress and it will boost your mood. So, keep up the hard work, and don’t forget to take a break from time to time.
Related: 200 Amazing Ways To Treat Yourself
22. Disconnect
Putting away your gadget can be a challenge. However, give yourself a break, by shutting down your device for a few hours and do something different. Doing so will give you a peace of mind.
23. Be kind To Yourself
“Be kind to yourself so you can be happy enough to be kind to the world.”
– misha collins
Be kind to yourself and don’t think that you don’t deserve it. Through it, you will be able to understand that weakness is a part of life. I know that many of us get stuck because of fear holding us back from realizing our true potential. However, accepting that you are not perfect will make it easier to accept who you are because accepting who you are is a part of loving yourself.
24. Smile
“Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.”
– marilyn monroe
A smile can be contagious; it has the power to elevate your mood and it can also change the moods of the people around you. Also, smiling can trick the brain into believing that an unpleasant situation is actually good. It’s because of the brain endorphins which lowers stress.
25. Learn to prioritize yourself
Prioritizing yourself isn’t selfish. It is one of the self-love ways because it’s time for you to love and to take care of yourself first. You need to be your own best advocate and to stand up for yourself.
Chase the things you deserve and will bring you joy, and let go of the things that makes you feel unhappy.
26. Listen To Your Favorite Music
“Music is the medicine of the mind.”
– john logan
Music is an important part of people’s life. What’s great about music is when you listen to your favorite songs it can make you feel good and happy.
27. Enjoy A Hobby
“A hobby a day keeps the doldrums away.”
phyllis mcginley
Try something new—you might end up loving it and turning it into a hobby. Whether it’s photography, drawing, or bike riding, having a hobby can help relieve stress and bring more joy into your life. Don’t hesitate to explore new interests—you might even meet someone who shares the same passion as you.
28. Sleep
Sleep is often neglected because of our busy lives. However, it is very important because it allows you to be able to recharge your body and mind.
29. Don’t Close Your Heart
“So, I close my eyes to old ends and open my heart to new beginnings.”
– nick frederickson
I know how hard it is to open your heart again after being hurt by the people you once trusted. The pain makes you build walls to protect yourself, but sometimes, those same walls also keep out the ones who genuinely want to love and understand you.
Looking back, I realized that closing my heart was a decision I made out of fear. And while I thought I was protecting myself, I was actually isolating myself. I didn’t give others the chance to truly know me. I kept wondering why I felt like I didn’t belong, when in reality, it was me who chose to keep my distance.
One of the most important self-love ways is learning to protect your heart without closing it completely. You’re allowed to be cautious, but also be brave enough to recognize when it’s safe to put your guard down. Let people in—you deserve a real connection.
30. Wear Something Nice
“Be your own kind of beautiful”
When you wear something nice, it can make you feel confident because you look presentable. Wear something that can make you feel good about yourself, and it doesn’t have to be expensive.
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