To give to others, we must give to ourselves. A lack of self-love leads to negative thoughts and burnout. Daily self-care rituals are essential. Why fall out of love one day and try to make up for it the next? What are your daily ritual routines? * I have shared mine with you below. It a good idea to write yours down; they are a commitment; a contract. To have a healthy relationship requires care and maintenance. You fall more in love when you have a steady routine, one that fortifies your wellbeing.

Surround yourself with those who support your Self-Care — Self-Love Rituals. Self- Care does not stop at our bodies. Healthy routines that support our psychological and spiritual well-being are essential for true self- love. 

Most of us have very busy lives, and it’s easy to make excuses; I get it! Sometimes I slack too. I have learned there are ways to forgive and also ways to make up for our excuses. It comes down to priorities. Falling out of grace with our rituals which help us, should NOT be disrupted unless it’s an emergency.  

Even if you must shorten your routine, stay with it! When things get in the way, I imagine my rituals in my mind; on a 14-hour plane ride, a wedding or funeral. I’ll look in the mirror and have a chat with myself. “Donna, it’s ok, I love you, I understand what’s going on. I forgive you.” Then I go into micromanagement and pay extra attention to what I eat, drink, and how much I am sleeping during these often-unpredictable offbeat times. I exercise by being a gofer in some situations; I’ll run the errands, climb stairs, anything to keep me active. Psychological self-care comes when I help others and take care of myself. Self-love is not selfish unless your end game is to idolize yourself. YUCK. 
 

Become One With Your Environment 

To love yourself, you must treat everything around you with love and compassion. At times, things may seem separate, but all things are connected in the web of life. This is the karmic flow, everything affects everything else. When you enter that stream with love, then you receive love back. Grace enters your life and opens your heart. 

You can only love your environment as much as you love yourself. When I say YOU, what comes to mind? Many people make the mistake of thinking that they are separate from their environment. When we open our eyes, we see the Earth, the animals, insects, and other life. Place yourself in their position, ask “how would I want to be treated?” When you live with that in mind, instead of killing that spider that comes into your room, you take the time to let it out. Because if you were in that position, you would want others to treat you that way. If more people love themselves, the Earth would be loved.  

Pay attention to how you treat your environment, even things you would perceive as “not alive” like that shirt you threw on the floor, that was made from the materials of the Earth. It’s a part of yourself and deserves respect. Be mindful of the small things, and how you interact with your environment daily. Add in more love and be conscious. This is how you unlock the secrets of self-love.

Self-Love And Facing Your Darkness

Self-Love takes doing the work. It is not always sunshine and rainbows; you’ll have to face your shadow. Within the darkness, you discover your light.  Know when to STOP IT and unsubscribe from the things that drain your energy. Face your demons, also known as the things that keep you divided. Those addictions, bad habits, negative patterns, and thoughts. Let them dissipate, you deserve to love yourself. When you let what does not support or serve you go, there is room for beauty to take its place. Balance is a constant process. It takes focus and time to be present in love. Don’t run from yourself, rise to the occasion. <3  

Once you have done this, then you can work on the greater task, the world’s shadow. It’s up to us to fix this darkness that has grown out of proportion. When we live with love, we become a solution to the world’s problems. 
 

My guilt free — Self-Love Recipe — What’s yours?