4 POWERFUL WAYS TO LOVE YOURSELF

Loving yourself is a process that starts from within. It is about accepting all aspects of yourself, including the light and shadow side. Each of us has our own set of archetypal patterns, which can help us understand our unconscious and subconscious behaviours and reactions. By embracing all aspects of ourselves, we can heal past wounds, release self-sabotage, and reach our highest potential. As human beings we each have our own archetypal patters such as: hermit, opportunist, martyr, investigator, role model, queen, prince, etc.

We also have archetypes that are part of all humanity and are connected to the base, sacral, solralpexus and heart chakras. Each archetype is the keeper of many gifts and challenges and can assist you in understanding your unconscious and subconscious patterns, behaviours, and reactions.

Working with archetypal energy can help you heal past wounds, release self-sabotage, let go of fearful and limiting patterns, reach your highest potential, reclaim your integrity, have more choices, and become self-empowered. Below are 4 steps that you can work with to accept your shadow, connect with your archetypes and to cultivate more inner love.

1. Define self-love

The first step to loving yourself is to define what self-love means to us. We can ask ourselves questions like "What does self-love mean to me?" or "How can I show more love to myself?" We can visualise a cup inside ourselves that represents our level of self-love and care. Is the cup full or empty? If it's empty, we can ask ourselves, "How am I giving myself away?" and "What steps can I take to fill my heart up?" This could include engaging in loving activities such as having a luxurious bath, getting a massage, or spending some relaxing time alone or with a friend.

2. Embrace all aspects of yourself

To love yourself fully, it is essential to embrace all aspects of yourself, including the parts we don't like or have pushed away. We can make a list of all the judgments we have made about ourselves and give each part a name. For example, if we discover a victim part of ourselves that we don't like, we can call it Victim Vicky or Victor. We can visualise what this part of ourselves looks like and talk to it, letting it know that we want to understand and accept it. The more we can accept all of ourselves, the more alive we will feel. We can also work with the victorious Vicky and Victor which can empower us to be courageous.

3. Celebrate successes

Creating a daily practice of acknowledging and celebrating our successes can help us cultivate self-love. Every time we do something positive, we can stop for a moment, place our hands on our heart, and deeply acknowledge it. We can also do something special to celebrate our achievements once or twice a week. This could include treating ourselves to a nice meal, buying ourselves something we've been wanting, or spending time doing something we enjoy.

4. Practice positive affirmations

Practicing positive affirmations is another powerful way to love yourself. Every morning, we can focus on a part of our body or personality that we have been challenged by and say positive affirmations. For example, if we feel that we are overweight, we can say, "I love my body, and my body loves me. I will nourish it with healthy food, and it will take on the shape that makes me feel good." By repeating these affirmations regularly, we can shift our mindset and cultivate self-love.

Loving yourself is a journey that requires patience, compassion, and self-awareness. By embracing all aspects of ourselves, celebrating our successes, and practicing positive affirmations, we can cultivate self-love and live a more fulfilling life. Remember, the most important relationship we have is the one we have with ourselves. Let's start showing ourselves the love and care we deserve today.

Inna Segal is a bestselling, award winning author of several books and cards on wellness and healing. Her new book, Understanding Modern Spirituality (Rockpool Publishing $29.99), is now available where all books are sold and online at www.rockpoolpublishing. com.au