Be nice to yourself. The quality of your life depends on it.

Your highest calling is to love yourself. Many of us have been duped into believing that loving yourself is selfish or conceited, when actually, this is one of the most selfless things you can do.

By loving yourself, you are giving yourself permission to be YOU. You are so uniquely special that if you did not exist, the world would not be the same.

When you love yourself more fully, you love others more fully. Your capacity for compassion deepens, your perspective changes.

Lack of self love plays out so painfully in relationships. When it comes to love, you can't give what you don't have. If you keep trying to love people before you've done the inner work, it's like throwing out a boomerang and then being confused when it comes back.

The hard truth is that if you avoid self love, the universe will keep sending you people who also avoid loving you. As long as you are unable to see your innate beauty and uniqueness, you will continue to attract people who are unable to see it as well.

One of the best ways to love yourself is to practice self-care. Self-care is about rest, exploration, choice, attention, mindfulness, gentleness, slowing down, experiencing pleasure, and really anything that makes you feel good. The most important thing is simply that you listen to your inner voice. It will tell you what you need.

To get you started, here’s a list of ways you might want to practice self care:

• Write or create art
• Take a walk outside
• Drink lots of water
• Eat mostly plants and fresh, raw foods
• Stretch
• Organize your physical space (it creates a clearer mental space)
• Take a technology break
• Dance or sing to your favorite music
• Read a book
• Write yourself a love letter
• Meditate

What are your favorite ways of practicing self love and self care?