Self-love is an important aspect of life, which means valuing your own self-worth, wellbeing and happiness. It begins when you start giving priority to yourself and engage in activities that make you feel better inside out. It could be reading your favourite book, journaling or taking time to rest and relax. The concepts of self-esteem, self-worth and self-image are all related to self-love. The amount of love you give yourself represents how you perceive yourself as an individual and how you portray your personality to the world. “We often forget that the most important relationship we have is the one we have with ourselves,” says New York-based psychotherapist and life coach, Lucía Garcia-Giurgiu.
While it may appear self-indulgent, practicing self-love offers several benefits for your mental and physical health. Practicing it regularly can help you keep stress, depression and anxiety at bay. You will be able to push through your self-limiting beliefs and pursue the things you truly want. An act of self-love can be as simple as taking a walk in nature, treating yourself to your favourite meal, meditating every morning or indulging in a relaxing spa session.
If you want to incorporate self-love but need a helping hand to start, here are some books on self-love that can boost your confidence, help you practice self-care, and show you how to truly love and embrace yourself.
The Self-Love Experiment, by Shannon Kaiser
This book teaches you how to use your confidence to face your fears and reach your life goals by becoming your own best friend. It tells you to drop what doesn’t serve you and follow the path that leads to true joy and satisfaction. The author takes you through her own personal journey and offers a simple plan to get rid of intrusive thoughts. The powerful pieces of advice in this book will help you follow your calling and make you fall in love with your life. This bestseller reveals practical solutions that can show you how to be comfortable with accepting and loving yourself.
What a Time to Be Alone, by Chidera Eggerue
This book on self-love will remind you that no matter where you find yourself in life, you will always have to face your truth. It centres on how you alone decide your self-worth. The book reiterates the fact that your feelings are valid and why you should make peace with them. The author helps you understand how to avoid toxicity, grow and sustain healthy relationships, and effective ways to end associations that no longer feel fruitful. The book also sheds light on the value of solitude. It tells you that being alone is not just okay, it is one of the best things that you can do with your time.
The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brené Brown
This New York Times bestseller serves as a guide to improving your self-esteem. Brown says that the first step towards living a wholesome life is to have the courage to reach out to others and share your stories of failure, shame and guilt. When people reveal they are imperfect and vulnerable, their relationships are strengthened. Courage, compassion and connection are the gifts of imperfection. This book is a must-read for people who are struggling to accept their flaws and move forward in life.
Untamed, by Glennon Doyle
Untamed is a powerful memoir that talks about the happiness and tranquillity you discover when you stop trying to meet other people’s expectations, and instead, start meeting your own. The book on self-love urges you to trust yourself enough to set boundaries, accept your body, honour your anger and heartbreak, and unleash your truest, wildest instincts. Untamed will help you discover your true self so that you can finally be free from the shackles of self-limiting beliefs. The book is all about embracing every aspect of your life to live freely as an independent and confident person in today’s world.
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