5 Ways to Love Yourself for Optimal Mental Health

A positive mental state allows people to be the best versions of themselves.  Ensuring that you do not forget to love yourself is one of the ways that you can relieve pressure and anxiety from your life. Here are 5 ways to love yourself for optimal mental health.  Showing self-love is easier for some people compared to others.  We all come from different walks of life and are often combatting things in life that are often beyond our control, but we are all human and one thing that is important no matter what is happening in your life is loving yourself - it's truly one of the greatest gifts you can give.  

5 ways to love yourself to achieve optimal mental health:

1. Practice self-care - too often, practicing self-care can take a back seat to everything going on in life.  Eventually, humans hit a breaking point and crash when they don't take the time to love yourself, enjoy life and be at peace.  
   
   
2. Focus on your needs, not your wants - set goals for things that bring you happiness or that can prevent stress in your life.  Short term excitement or a temporary feel-good moment can sometimes derail our master plan that was designed for achieving the mental state we are seeking.  It's important to focus on your goals and what you need to get there.   
   
   
3. Set healthy boundaries - accept that you can't do everything and sometimes we carry burden with us and keep adding to it rather than knowing when to raise your hand and ask for help.  Saying no does not have to be mean, but knowing your limits and when you're going to cause harm or stress that you can't absorb is critical for all of us as people.  
   
   
4. Forgive others - harboring anger and resentment towards others fuels anxiety and blocks you from being able to love yourself. Counseling can help if you're having trouble letting go and being consumed in trying to cope or move on from being hurt in your past. 
    
5. Forgive yourself - remember that nobody in life is perfect and it's okay to make mistakes. Perhaps you said something you wish you had not or you had an accident, remember that you're human after all and learning is what makes us all better the next time.  Making mistakes and growing from the lessons you've learned propels you towards the best you that you can be.  

The thing about self-love is that it takes practice and can't be an occasional exercise.  Learn to get into the right routine for you and incorporate it into your overall health and wellness plan for you!