Embracing Self-Love

This page covers:
– What is self-love?
– Self-love in practice
– Self-love in action
– Why self-love matters
– Resources

What is Self-Love?

Self-love means having a high regard for your own well-being and happiness. It involves taking care of your own needs and not sacrificing your well-being to please others. Self-love is about not settling for less than you deserve and recognizing your own value.

The Importance of Self-Care

For many people with cerebral palsy self-care is a vital part of daily life. This includes activities like toileting, bathing, moving between positions, dressing, managing personal hygiene, preparing meals, and getting a good night’s sleep. Your ability to care for yourself depends on a combination of your skills, the environment, and the support you have access to.

What Does Self-Love Mean to You?

Self-love can mean different things to different people. It’s about finding what works for you and embracing practices that nurture your well-being. Here are some ways to think about and practice self-love:

• Talking to and about yourself with love: Use positive language when thinking and speaking about yourself.
• Prioritising yourself: Make sure your needs come first.
• Giving yourself a break from self-judgment: Be kind to yourself, even when you make mistakes.
• Trusting yourself: Have confidence in your abilities and decisions.
• Being true to yourself: Stay authentic to who you are.
• Setting healthy boundaries: Know your limits and communicate them to others.
• Forgiving yourself: Let go of past mistakes and move forward with compassion.

Self-love in practice

Practical Self-Care Tips

To practise self-care, we often need to go back to basics:

• Listen to your body: Pay attention to what your body needs and respond accordingly.
• Take breaks and move/stretch: Regular movement helps maintain physical and mental well-being.
• Put the phone down: Disconnect from technology and reconnect with yourself or others.
• Eat healthily: Nourish your body with balanced meals, and occasionally treat yourself to your favorite foods.

The Benefits of Self-Love

Self-love motivates you to make healthy choices in life. When you hold yourself in high esteem, you’re more likely to choose things that nurture your well-being, such as eating healthy, exercising, and building healthy relationships. Here are ways to practise self-love:

• Becoming mindful: Know what you think, feel, and want.
• Taking actions based on need rather than want: Focus on fulfilling your needs, which helps you avoid harmful patterns.
• Practising good self-care: Love yourself by taking care of your basic needs, such as nutrition, exercise, and sleep.
• Making room for healthy habits: Do things because you care about yourself, not just to get them done.

How to Practise Self-Love

Start by being kind, patient, gentle, and compassionate with yourself, just as you would be with someone you care about. Accept yourself as you are in this very moment, for everything that you are. This means accepting your emotions and putting your physical, emotional, and mental well-being first.

Self-Love in Action

Here are examples of self-love in action:

• Saying positive things to yourself
• Forgiving yourself when you mess up
• Meeting your own needs
• Being assertive
• Not letting others take advantage of or abuse you
• Prioritizing your health and well-being
• Spending time with supportive people
• Asking for help when needed
• Letting go of grudges
• Recognizing your strengths
• Valuing your feelings
• Making healthy choices
• Living in accordance with your values
• Pursuing your interests and goals
• Challenging yourself
• Holding yourself accountable
• Giving yourself healthy treats
• Accepting your imperfections
• Setting realistic expectations
• Noticing your progress and effort

Why Self-Love Matters

Without self-love, you might be highly self-critical, fall into people-pleasing, or perfectionism. You’re more likely to tolerate abuse or mistreatment, neglect your own needs, and make decisions that aren’t in your best interest. Self-love is the foundation that allows you to be assertive, set boundaries, create healthy relationships, practice self-care, pursue your goals, and feel proud of who you are.