| We know that we should love our self, but | | | | through emergencies, temporary unemployment, and |
| sometimes we're not sure how to go about it. Here | | | | for retirement. Always have some money that only |
| is a little checklist for you to get you started. | | | | you can get to. |
| Begin by checking to see if your immediate physical | | | | What about your emotional needs? Are you in a |
| needs are met at this moment. Do you need healthy | | | | loving relationship? Wonderful. Are you in a |
| food? Are you tired? Do you need sleep? Part of | | | | relationship that makes you unhappy? If you are in a |
| loving yourself is seeing to your needs sensibly. | | | | relationship that isn't good for you, that makes you |
| Sometimes we get in a bad mood simply because | | | | feel bad about yourself, or that makes you unhappy, |
| we're over-tired or haven't eaten in a while or have | | | | you want to show yourself love by ending the |
| made poor food choices. If you need sleep or a | | | | relationship. Are you lonely? Then make friends or |
| good meal, see to that first. | | | | start dating. |
| How are you feeling? Do you need to talk to | | | | What about your health? Do you show yourself love |
| someone? Then don't just sit there, call someone. | | | | by taking care of your body? Often we diet for |
| Talk to them about anything, it doesn't have to be | | | | looks, but what is most loving is to take care of your |
| about important things. Do you need to shift your | | | | health. Sometimes health and losing weight overlap, |
| thoughts away from unhappy thoughts or self | | | | but sometimes people diet and do not help their |
| criticism? Then do that. Get involved in some work or | | | | health or even harm it. It is loving to see to your |
| a project, put on happy music, do something | | | | health through healthy eating, exercise, keeping a |
| enjoyable, read something uplifting, find friends and | | | | sensible weight, getting enough sleep, avoiding |
| tell them you need to have some fun, but find some | | | | cigarettes and other health risks, and getting regular |
| way to shift your thoughts away from sadness. | | | | medical care. |
| Make it a habit to say encouraging, kind words to | | | | After all of these things, there is still more! If you are |
| yourself. | | | | taking care of your needs, both in this moment and |
| When your physical needs are met and you are | | | | in the future, that is wonderful! But you can also |
| feeling okay, then it's time to think long term if your | | | | show love "just because." Much like a loving parent |
| needs are being met. Do you have enough income | | | | would do, speak nicely to yourself. Maybe do |
| that you are financially stable? If not, then come up | | | | something nice for yourself now, "just because." You |
| with a plan to change this, and work on it until you | | | | don't have to have a need to be loving to yourself. |
| have some financial security. Save money to get you | | | | |