Unlock Happiness: 29 Ways to Practice Self-Love and Find Joy
Self-love is like oxygen, crucial to personal growth, happiness, and well-being. The journey to self-love can be challenging, no doubt.
It took me years of not loving myself and hitting rock bottom emotionally to wake up to a different way of living. I learned the journey to loving myself got easier as I adopted the right tools and practices.
This guide provides 29 ways to practice self-love that will boost confidence and enhance well-being, helping you embrace self-love daily.
Key Takeaways
Discover self-love and embrace your worthiness
Build confidence through positive affirmations and self-talk
Foster joy, inner peace, and acceptance with mindfulness & meditation
Ready to learn practical ways to practice self-love? Me too, let’s do this!
1. Embracing Your Worthiness
Know that you are worthy because you are here. There is no one else like you on Earth. You were handpicked by the universe to be here at this appointed time to share your unique gifts with the world.
Resting in this fundamental truth is a beautiful way to honor yourself and is one of the best ways to practice self-love. Anytime you doubt your basic goodness, pause, take a deep breath, and affirm, “I am worthy and deserving of every good thing. I am worthy and deserving because I am here.”
2. Building Self-Confidence
Self-confidence is like a muscle; you can build it up over time. Positive self-talk and affirmations can significantly improve your self-esteem and overall well-being.
There are many ways to practice self-love as it relates to self-confidence. One powerful technique I used to build my self-confidence was mirror work. I would stand in front of my bathroom mirror, look at myself compassionately, and repeat my self-love affirmations every morning.
This practice helped to boost my self-esteem and self-confidence as I began to acknowledge and affirm my worth and beauty.
3. Loving Your Body Unconditionally
We are divine beings; our bodies are a beautiful expression of the divine. Society and unrealistic beauty standards create doubt in our minds and cause the best of us to question our worth based on how our bodies are shaped.
Don’t believe the lies. You are beautiful.
Your physical features are uniquely you. What you may perceive as an imperfection someone else may be envious of, wishing they had what you have naturally.
One of the best ways to practice self-love is by embracing what you’ve been blessed with and by practicing self-acceptance to help you feel more comfortable in your own skin.
4. Practicing Mindfulness and Meditation
Mindfulness and meditation changed my life for the better and became one of my main ways to practice self-love. I went from feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and on the verge of burnout to a peaceful, abiding calm that is present with me every day.
Mindfulness and meditation help you stay present, skillfully handle stress, and deepen your relationship with yourself and others for the better.
Meditating with self-love affirmations is a simple way to connect with yourself and cultivate inner peace.
5. Journaling for Self-Reflection
A lot of my personal growth came through journaling for self-reflection. There’s something therapeutic about getting your thoughts, emotions, and experiences out of your head and heart into a journal.
Journaling provides a safe space to be authentic and speak your truth without judgment. Journaling also gives perspective, helps identify patterns, and facilitates inner healing.
Developing a consistent journaling practice will help create the clarity needed to move your life forward in a powerful way. Journaling is one of my favorite ways to practice self-love.
6. Setting Healthy Boundaries
“NO” is a complete sentence, period! Know that you have every right to honor yourself without explaining yourself.
Establishing and maintaining boundaries allows you space to move, breathe, and be. Having clear boundaries teaches others how to engage with you and respect you.
Healthy boundaries can help you focus on your wants, care for yourself, and serve others gracefully. It’s another one of many ways to practice self-love.
7. Overcoming Negative Thoughts
Nothing can immobilize us more than negative thoughts. “I’ll never earn the promotion.” “I’m not good enough.” “I don’t deserve a life partner who will treat me right.”
Says who? None of this is true!
The good news is that we can replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations and retrain our brains over time. Studies show that affirmations activate the brain’s reward system, improving emotional management, well-being, resilience, and self-confidence.
Consistent positive self-talk and affirmations will gradually replace negativity with empowerment, enhancing well-being and mindset.
8. Nurturing Hobbies and Passions
Having hobbies and passion brings joy, happiness, and self-worth. What have you always wanted to do or try? I enjoy nature walks, adventure vacations, and trying new restaurants around town.
Engaging in activities and finding your “thing” can fuel ways to practice self-love and personal growth.
9. Prioritizing Self-Care Rituals
Let’s scream it from the mountaintops: self-care is not selfish! In fact, it’s one of the absolute best ways to practice self-love. Slowing down to love and nurture yourself is one of the best things you can do for your well-being.
The beautiful thing about self-care is that you can do what works for you. For some, it’s enjoying a bubble bath by candlelight, taking a long walk in nature, or taking the day off of work to relax.
For others, it’s spending dedicated time on a hobby, maintaining personal and professional boundaries, or spending time with loved ones. Whatever your self-care rituals, commit to prioritizing them above all else unapologetically.
10. Celebrating Small Victories
Celebrating your wins, no matter how small, is a powerful way to boost your self-confidence, happiness, and self-love.
Whether in your personal or professional life, take the time to celebrate your successes and accomplishments. So go ahead, treat yourself; you deserve it!
11. Letting Go of Perfectionism
Perfectionism can stop us from making meaningful progress and is a significant roadblock to loving ourselves fully.
Doing your best and letting go of the rest is all we can do. What are you willing to let go of in this moment? Releasing what no longer serves us is one of many beautiful ways to practice self-love.
12. Cultivating Gratitude
Focusing on what’s right with you and your world can cultivate good vibes and gratitude. It’s also another one of the great ways to practice self-love. Appreciate the little things and write them down in your gratitude journal. Take time to thank people for their service or kindness.
Reflect on the challenges you’ve overcome and how that’s made you a better person. There are countless ways to practice gratitude. Pick one that moves you.
13. Surrounding Yourself with Positivity
Surround yourself with people and environments that uplift and inspire you. Supportive friends and family. A positive work environment. Reading books or listening to podcasts that challenge you to grow and reach your full potential. This is another one of my favorite ways to practice self-love.
Don’t be afraid to honor yourself by cutting ties with unhealthy people and environments that no longer serve you. I know this is one of the harder ways to practice self-love, but you deserve the best, so don’t shortchange yourself.
14. Developing a Healthy Sleep Routine
I don’t know about you, but I feel like a sleepwalking zombie if I get less than 7.5 hours of sleep. Experts recommend 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night for optimal health and wellness.
Think about the last time you felt well-rested? You probably had all the energy you needed to slay the day excellently, right? You deserve to feel great every day.
A well-rested mind is the best mind. Prioritize those Zzzz.
15. Taking Breaks and Practicing Self-Compassion
Give yourself permission to take it easy when you need to. Running ourselves into the ground is not the move.
Treating ourselves with compassion and getting still to listen to our inner needs will foster ways to practice self-love and positive personal growth. So take your time and trust the divine timing for your life.
16. Exploring New Experiences
New experiences have a way of helping us get out of our comfort zones and into our growth zones.
Whether it’s finally trying a new hobby, traveling to a bucket list destination, or challenging yourself to learn a new skill, embracing new experiences accelerates our personal growth and strengthens our self-confidence.
17. Avoiding Comparison
It’s so hard nowadays, with everyone showcasing their curated lives on social media. It can make you doubt how amazing you are and all the good things you have going for yourself.
Comparison negatively impacts our self-esteem and self-worth. Who needs that? The most loving thing we can do is realize that everyone is on their own journey, with their divine timing.
The best thing we can do is focus on being the best we can be and making the most of our unique talents and gifts.
18. Setting Personal Goals
Setting and slaying your goals is one of the best confidence boosters around. There is nothing like that sense of accomplishment.
Setting an intention and doing what you said is rocket fuel for our self-worth. So, what are you going to do, by when? Start small and focus on taking the next step. I’m rooting for you!
19. Decluttering Your Life
What people, places, things, or experiences have you outgrown and are no longer serving your highest good? Decluttering is one of the difficult but necessary ways to practice self-love.
What do you need to let go of or do less to have more focus, joy, and productivity?
Decluttering can help you prioritize your needs and goals, allowing you to focus on what truly matters to you.
20. Engaging in Physical Activity
How do you like to move? Gentle yoga does it for me and is one of my fun ways to practice self-love. It’s well documented in the research that physical activity is vital for our mental and physical health.
Even if it’s only for 30 minutes a day, find a way to move. If 30 minutes feel too long, that’s okay; start where you are and work your way up. Your mind and body will thank you.
21. Practicing Forgiveness
Forgiveness is hard, especially when you’ve been hurt or betrayed. Trust me, I’ve been violated, disrespected, and dishonored in my past by lovers, friends, and acquaintances. Forgiveness is one of my sacred ways to practice self-love.
It never feels good and is never easy. But forgiveness is necessary. Forgiveness allows you to release negative emotions, such as anger and resentment, and embrace self-compassion and understanding.
Forgiveness is freeing and allows us to move our lives forward positively. Forgive others, and most importantly, forgive yourself.
22. Nurturing Social Connections
Find and nurture your tribe. Healthy social connections offer emotional support and motivation and foster a sense of belonging.
And remember, you only need a handful of meaningful relationships to reap community benefits. Surrounding yourself with loving and positive people will play a significant role in your life journey.
23. Creating a Positive Environment
Setting and protecting the vibe in your environment is essential for your peace of mind and overall well-being.
I love to smudge my home with palo santo to clear out stagnant energies. Other ways to create a positive environment include:
Decorating your home or office space with inspirational quotes.
Setting boundaries.
Having zero tolerance for toxic influences in any form.
24. Investing in Personal Growth
What’s your plan for growth this year?
Investing in your personal development and taking massive action on your learnings is critical to creating your desired life.
Dig deep. Mute those fears. You are more than capable of achieving your goals. Focus on taking the next step. You’ve got this.
25. Establishing a Morning Routine
Taking time each morning to nurture your mind, body, and soul creates conditions for success.
What’s your morning routine? Do you wake up at the same time every day? How are you hydrating and nourishing your body? Do you like to meditate or work out in the morning? Do you like to plan your day each morning?
Have fun creating your new morning routine!
26. Practicing Affirmations
Practice makes the master. Affirmations work through repetition to rewire negative thought patterns, replacing them with positive, uplifting thoughts that will empower you and enhance your overall well-being.
Louise Hay is the authority on the power of affirmations; check out her list of life-giving affirmations here.
27. Enjoying Nature and the Outdoors
How often do you get out in nature? There’s something magical about the great outdoors that allows us to relax, unwind, and recharge.
Whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed by life, a nature walk always helps to give perspective. Being surrounded by nature’s vastness makes anything we’re working through much smaller and more manageable.
Spend some time in nature and discover the benefits for yourself.
28. Indulging in Relaxation Techniques
Massage or meditation, anyone? It’s okay to indulge in relaxation for your well-being. There are so many ways to relax.
Reading a good book, taking a nap, having a spa day, or having an unscheduled day to do whatever you want can feel good and help us reset.
Taking the time to relax and care for yourself nurtures your mental and emotional well-being, promoting a greater sense of self-love and overall happiness.
29. Practicing Self-Kindness
Are you more kinder to other people than you are to yourself? Learning to be kind to yourself is essential on your journey to self-love.
Treat yourself with the same patience, compassion, and understanding you extend to friends, family, and perfect strangers. You are worthy of your own acknowledgment and grace.
Summary
In conclusion, practicing self-love is a lifelong journey filled with growth, self-discovery, and personal development.
Implementing these 29 ways to practice self-love into your daily life can help you develop a greater sense of self-worth, happiness, and overall well-being. Remember, self-love is a choice; choose yourself.
