All You Need is Love

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Self-love is a vital part of what we need to survive and live a happy, fulfilled life. What many people become confused about, however, is the meaning of self-love. If you asked five people for their definition of self-love, you would undoubtedly hear five unique definitions. And it’s that simple! We have the choice to define what it means to us as an individual. You get to decide what you need, because you are your own person. We all need something a little different, and there is no cookie-cutter way to love yourself.

From my own personal experience, self-love is all about action. Let’s think about self-love in the same way we think about a romantic relationship. When we are in a relationship where there is love, there is going to be action that shows the love is there. If I was dating someone who told me they loved me, but their actions showed otherwise, I am going to start to wonder if the person is “all talk!” We need to treat ourselves with the same tenderness, love, and care. It is time to start acting out of love. This means nourishing the mind, body, and soul. The fun part is that you get to decide what you need!

Below are ways you can show yourself some love:

Learn to say “no”

This means taking the time to make the right decision about a situation or a relationship. Is this really in my best interest? Sometimes the right choice isn’t always the easy one.

Treat your body as a temple

It’s time to start treating your body with the love and respect it deserves. Try and think where you can improve. Maybe it’s time to crank up the exercise, or maybe you are a gym rat, but you are struggling with setting aside relaxation time. Spend time with yourself. If you are already all about relaxation, maybe the action you need is to get out and get some exercise.

Spend time outdoors

Take a walk at your favorite outdoor spot once a week. Do you love the beach, a woodland path, or the lake? Get outside!

Try something new

Learn something new or do something you have always wanted to do. Maybe you always dreamed about riding a horse into the sunset bareback. Let’s make it happen!

Don’t forget to laugh

Life can be hectic, and at times you may find yourself overwhelmed by everything around you. But not everything is an emergency. Don’t take everything so seriously and learn to appreciate the small joys of life.

Forgive yourself

Don’t beat yourself up if you make a mistake but try to learn from it.

Love even the darkest parts of yourself

We all have parts of ourselves we don’t like to look at. Today, make the choice to love that part of yourself and to throw the fear out the window. Your dark side is what makes you unique.

Listen to your intuition

This is a fancy way of saying, “Trust your gut.”

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, Mountainside can help.
Click here or call (888) 833-4676 to speak with one of our addiction treatment experts.