TAKE OUR 28-DAY SELF-LOVE CHALLENGE

We often have lots of love to give to those around us. But what about the importance of showing a little love to ourselves?

Before you can love someone else, you need to learn to love yourself... We’ve all heard this phrase, perhaps too often for our liking. But there’s some truth to this saying outside of what we see in romcoms and chick flicks.

LOVE THYSELF
Self-love is more than just doing something fun and indulgent or spending a day doing nothing at all. It is about tackling a few simple tasks that can genuinely have a positive impact on your body – not only physically but mentally, too.

When you are kind to yourself, you reduce your stress levels, and you become more energized. This boosts your body’s ability to produce mood-enhancing serotonin, which leads to increased happiness and, in many cases, an improved sense of self-worth and physical health.

But it’s hard to start showing self-love when you’re used to putting everyone else first. It’s not that your loved ones’ needs aren’t important – it’s that your needs are, too!

FILL YOUR TANK
It doesn’t help that pop culture reinforces the idea that romantic love is the only way to feel valued. How many times have you watched a movie in which a woman flounders until she finds love, or fumbles love and throws herself into her work?

“You can be happy and find affirmation whether you are single or in a committed relationship,” says Robyn Smith, a Cape Town-based clinical psychologist. “What matters in any scenario is you – not the external validation.”

We all find validation in different ways, she says. “There’s an important distinction between the self-love linked to getting your nails done and the self-love that helps you figure out what fills your tank.

“Self-love is about what gives you more capacity to manage your life in a sustainable way. That is where you will realize the value in yourself, and where you will find the ability to keep going.”

SPEAK WORDS OF AFFIRMATION
“You are kind. You are smart. You are important.” Words of self-affirmation are a key method of empowering yourself.

Mantras that remind you of your positive traits can be included in your daily routine, often in either written or spoken words, such as “I am enough” or “I don’t need to be perfect” or “My best is good enough”.

These affirmations can restore your competence and allow you to reflect on your sources of self-worth, such as your core values. It’s natural to feel uncomfortable when you first try this out, but once you feel the positive influence of speaking kinder words to yourself, you will wonder what was so unlovable in the first place.
TAKE OUR 28-DAY SELF-LOVE CHALLENGE
This February, we challenge you to love yourself better. There is a different task for you to complete each day – if you have a setback, don’t worry. Pick yourself up and keep going!