How do you expect to fall in love with someone and experience that love back when you can barely stand yourself?
You have probably said that to a friend or heard it yourself. If you want to live a fulfilling and abundant life, you have to learn to love yourself and make yourself a priority. Yet, as you read this, you think that this sounds like a selfish way to live. It’s the opposite. When you learn to love yourself and put yourself first, everyone and everything around you benefit from it. When you care enough to nurture your physiological and physical health, you can have the energy for everyone else. What other benefits come from making yourself a priority in your own life? Let’s take a look.
- Your Health
Your health is the most apparent benefit. Just think about how you feel after a stressful day. Do you often experience long weeks where you fantasize about how you will spend your weekend only to finally reach the point and struggle to get out of bed? Your body can and will force you to rest if you don’t take care of it. Stress increases your stress levels, breaks down your immune system, and leaves you more likely to pick up every bug going around. Taking care of yourself is part of supporting your physical health and your emotional self, mental health, and spiritual self, too.
- Improve Relationships
Friendships, social and familial relationships improve when you take care of yourself. How can you expect anyone to love and respect you when you struggle with loving and respecting yourself? Just as important, how can you expect that when you aren’t your best self? It would help if you weren’t afraid to put yourself first. Make the time to develop and nurture the qualities you need for self-love. When you see the benefits this time has on your life, you will want the people around you to do the same. That allows both of you to be there for the other. You will both be more fun to be around.
- The Family Benefits
Let’s focus more on how your family and friends will benefit. How often do you cancel plans or refuse to make them in the first place? You’re just too exhausted to make dinner. You can’t get up early enough to grab breakfast. The people in your life already love you, they want you to be happy, and they want you to be healthy. So, by putting yourself first and making yourself a priority, you can present your best self to them as well.
- Happiness
We all want to find happiness. To achieve satisfaction, you will have to go inside yourself. Don’t be afraid to go on a retreat. Don’t think about what others will think if you take a weekend to yourself to reflect. It will be the most relaxing time in your life. Another benefit is you will learn to listen to your body. This will tell you the changes you need to maintain your physical health. It is easier to be emotionally happy with physical health. No one can benefit from knowing the whole you until you know yourself.
- Work-life
You will be more productive, creative, and a better communicator when looking after yourself. Just think about how energized you feel after a good night’s sleep. Make yourself a priority live the dream by taking the time you deserve. It will have an immense effect on every area of your life, and your peers and employer will see the difference.
