3 Ways I’ve Learned To Cultivate Self-Love Through Meditation

When it comes to self-love, we often think of things like face masks, bubble baths, and self-care Sundays. And while those things are great for pampering yourself, self-love isn’t just about feeling good; it’s about feeling whole. It’s about caring for yourself – mind, body, and soul.

We all know we should love ourselves, but it’s not always as easy as it sounds. Sometimes, we need a little help to get us there. Meditation has been proven to improve mental health, increase self-esteem stability, and result in higher self-compassion levels. This post will show you how to cultivate self-love through meditation and why it’s so important.

Self-love, explained

You’ve probably heard the phrase “self-love” before, but what does it actually mean? Is it really just about pampering yourself and being selfish? Well, it can be. But it’s also a lot more than that. 

Self-love is about giving yourself the love you deserve and allowing yourself to feel good about who you are. It’s celebrating your success, big and small. It’s being gentle with yourself when you make a mistake, and treating yourself with compassion when you’re going through a tough time.

Self-love is recognizing that you are worthy of happiness and taking steps to create a life that brings you joy.

While it might sound a little selfish at first, it’s actually the best thing you can do for yourself. When you’re happy, your life is better for it. You’re more productive, creative, and positive. You have more energy and enthusiasm to tackle the important things in your life.

How self-love can help you

Self-love is really the foundation of a happy, healthy life. And this isn’t just some self-help rhetoric – there’s science to back it up.

Numerous studies have shown us that self-love is associated with a host of positive outcomes, including:

• Better relationships with others
• Increased self-esteem and acceptance
• Better health and wellbeing
• Lower levels of anxiety and depression
• Greater satisfaction in life

In other words, self-love isn’t just some nice-to-have quality – it’s essential for a happy and fulfilling life.

Related: Metta Meditation: Feel Good Every Day

Meditation is the perfect self-love tool

So, if self-love is this incredible thing that can improve your life, why do so many people struggle with it? A lot of it has to do with the fact that self-love is something that you have to cultivate. It doesn’t just happen overnight – it takes time, effort, and practice.

This is why meditation is such a powerful tool for self-love. You see, when you meditate, you allow yourself to step out of the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and connect with yourself on a deeper level.

It’s a chance to check in with your body and mind, and see how you’re really doing. By meditating, you create space for self-love to grow. You learn to be more present and aware of your thoughts or feelings, without judgment. You give yourself permission to simply be. 

Meditation is the perfect place to start if you’re looking to cultivate self-love. It’s a simple, yet powerful tool that can help you to connect with yourself on a deeper level and create a foundation of self-love that will last a lifetime.

RELATED: The Best Beginners Meditation Techniques

3 ways meditation can help you cultivate self-love

Here are some specific ways that meditation can help you cultivate self-love based on my own personal experience:

1. Meditation will help you become more accepting of yourself

Many of us go through life not really liking or accepting ourselves. We nitpick our every flaw, beating ourselves up for not being “good enough.” It’s truly a vicious cycle and one that can be difficult to escape from. However, by practicing meditation and becoming more accepting of yourself, you’ll be able to break free from this cycle.

Through meditation, you’ll learn that it’s okay to make mistakes and that there is nothing wrong with being human. With regular meditation, you’ll become more accepting of yourself – both the good and the bad. This will allow you to see that you’re not perfect, and that’s okay. In the end, it’s your imperfections that are part of what makes you unique and special.

2. Meditation will help you become more self-aware

Most people don’t realize how much their thoughts control their behaviors — but it’s true! Suppose you’re thinking about something negative or stressing out about something that hasn’t happened yet. In that case, chances are it’s affecting how you feel right now. But with regular meditation, you’ll become more aware of your thoughts and how they affect your emotions.

When you become more aware of your thoughts, you’ll realize they’re not always true or helpful. This will allow you to have better control over what goes on inside your head – which is especially important if you’re prone to anxiety. With meditation, you can start making better decisions and control your life more.

3. Meditation will help you challenge self-defeating thoughts and behaviors

Many of us have a narrative in our heads about who we are and what’s possible in our lives. Those thoughts can become ingrained in your mind if you’ve always been told that you’re not good enough or smart enough, or pretty enough. You may have the same negative thoughts about yourself over and over again, even though they aren’t true at all. By meditating, you can calm your mind when these thoughts pop up and help yourself see things for what they really are rather than through the lens of negativity.

You can challenge these thoughts with meditation and create new, more positive ones. So, instead of thinking, “I’m not smart enough,” you may start to think, “I don’t know everything, but I have a lot of potential.” What matters here is that you begin to see yourself differently and change the way you think about yourself.

Learn more about meditation with one of these podcasts.

Get started with meditation for self-love

Here’s a quick meditation to get you started on your journey toward self-love:

• Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes.
• Focus on your breathing, taking slow deep breaths through your nose and out through your mouth.
• Feel each breath as it comes into your body and goes out again.
• As you focus on your breathing, bring your attention to the center of your chest.
• Feel the heaviness of your breath as it enters and leaves your body.
• Notice how the weight of this heaviness allows you to feel grounded and connected with yourself.
• Take a moment to be filled with love and appreciation for who you are as a person. When you’re ready, open your eyes and return to the present moment.

Try this: Enjoy this full-length self-love yoga class from Yoga With Adrienne.

Powerful self-love exercises to try at home

Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations are a powerful way to change your thoughts and beliefs about yourself. They can help you build a new, healthier relationship with yourself by reminding you of all the good things about who you are and what makes you special. Here are some examples of positive affirmations:

• I love myself as I am today.
• I am grateful to be the person I am.
• I deserve happiness and joy.

By repeating these affirmations to yourself daily, you’ll change your brain chemistry, making it easier to accept and love yourself. You can also try my 15-minute Guided Positive Affirmations, which will help you develop more confidence, self-esteem, and self-love.

Self-love Journal Prompts

Journaling is another excellent tool for building self-love, and it can be as simple as writing down your thoughts in a journal. You can use the prompts below to get started or come up with your own.

• What do I like about myself?
• What are my strengths?
• How can I improve my life today?
• What are some self-love habits I would like to begin?

Try to write at least one entry every day for 30 days and see how they begin to affect your self-esteem and relationships.

Self-love habits to start today

If you’re ready to start cultivating self-love, here are some habits that you can start today:

• Make time for yourself. Dedicate at least 10 minutes to doing something that makes you happy. This could be reading, taking a bath, going for a walk, or listening to music.
• Be mindful of your thoughts. When you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts about yourself, stop and reframe them in a more positive light. For example, instead of thinking, “I’m so fat,” try, “I love my body just the way it is.”
• Give yourself compliments. Every day, take a few moments to give yourself some positive affirmations. For example, “I am worthy of love and happiness,” or “I am strong and capable.”
• Practice self-care. Make sure to take care of your physical and emotional needs. This could mean getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, regularly exercising, or taking time for yourself when feeling overwhelmed.
• Set boundaries. Learn to say no to things that don’t serve you. This will help you protect your energy and focus on taking care of yourself.

The takeaway

Self-love is essential for a happy and healthy life, and meditation can help you get there. If you’re ready to start cultivating self-love, try incorporating some of the habits above into your daily routine. And if you’re new to meditation, plenty of resources are available to help you get started.

What does self-love mean to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.