Love is in the air!

Some of you will be lucky in love and others less so but one thing that we can all do is give ourselves some self love.

What is self love? 

Self love is giving yourself praise when praise is due. Playfully noting what could be improved without criticising yourself too harshly, ensuring your own needs are met in a healthy way.

Looking after your mind, body and spirit and ensuring that you treat yourself as kindly as you would treat other people.

It’s about appreciating yourself for who you are and acknowledging that you are loveable and worthwhile just the way you are.

How can we practice self love?

Set Boundaries

By setting boundaries for our time, energy and behaviour. It is important to know what your priorities are and to ring-fence some time for yourself. Not in a selfish way but in a way that shows that your hobbies and interests are important too and that it is ok to say no sometimes. 

It is about setting boundaries which states the kind of behaviour you find acceptable and that which you do not, both from yourself and from other people. 

People respect boundaries as it keeps everyone safe. Having no rules and no codes of conduct creates chaos.

Taking care of your body

Take care of your body by eating a balanced diet rich in nutrients but which also allows for occasional treats.

Look after your skin by using good quality skin care products and moisturise your feet regularly before bed by massaging a little good quality foot or body lotion into your feet. 

Get plenty of fresh air, even if it is just a gentle stroll around the block, walking to the shop to get a newspaper or having a potter around your garden in the sunshine. This can help lift low mood and get the blood pumping.

Be gentle on yourself

Be gentle on yourself by letting go of any need for perfectionism. Instead aim for praising yourself wherever praise is due. Be playful when learning new things. Experiment and then tweak your method for next time.

When I first qualified as a Therapist, I found my need for perfection paralysing, as I was too scared to practice in case I came across something that I did not know the answer to, or a condition I didn’t know how to treat.

Over time I’ve realised that it is ok to acknoweldge if I don’t know something and it’s also ok to refer clients on if I am not able to offer them the best solution to their current challenges. It’s given me opportunity to practice and refine what I offer. In such a way that I’m not beating myself up if I don’t have every answer to every conceivable problem available to me at that exact moment!

Praise yourself for how far you’ve come

We are all making progress all the time and it is often not until we stop and take a look back to what we’ve overcome that we realise how much progress we have actually made. So look back at your journey so far, with kind eyes. You’ve come so far, you’ve got this

Crystals useful for self-love

Rose quartz crystals are great for helping you with unconditional love and self-acceptance. The warm pink tones of the rose quartz crystals are wonderfully heartwarming. Rose quartz is great for helping you find things, including a healthy relationship with yourself and others.

Rhodochrosite is another pinkish crystal which is useful for self-love, helping to connect you to your highest good.

Helpful Essential Oils for self love

Rose essential is the queen of essential oils, great for the heart chakra and for helping you feel warm towards yourself. Neroli is also very helpful as is Geranium. Both are very nurturing oils.

Frankincense essential oil is also very good  

Where to buy Essential Oils

When buying essential oils it is always important to buy them from a reputable retailer. The best essential oil retailers are listed on the Aromatherapy Trade Council website.

See https://www.a-t-c.org.uk

I am a Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic Consultant and you can buy essential oils from my replicated website. I will receive a percentage of any sales made via my replicated website.

Here is their essential oils page

Resources: https://www.sarahcooper.co.uk/frankincense-essential-oil-a-hug-in-a-bottle/

Read my article on How to be kind to yourself https://www.sarahcooper.co.uk/how-to-be-kind-to-yourself/