Have you ever heard someone say that before you can love someone else, or even before you can accept love from someone else, you first have to love YOURSELF? Guys. It’s true.

If you think about it, who do you spend the most time with? You might be thinking “my kids” or “my spouse,” and maybe those answers ring true, but even before the people you hold dearest, there’s someone else you’re spending time with that you might be forgetting to love: YOU!

Outfit Details:

Two Piece Sweat Set (similar here), nude polka dot washi tape, Heart Print Wall Art (similar here and here), personalized notecards

If you can’t show love to the person who honestly should matter the most in your world (again, YOU!), how can you expect to fully embrace love from other people? The truth of it is that the words you use matter. Especially the words you choose when you are speaking about and to yourself.

In fact, when you speak negatively to yourself, it can increase depression, anxiety, and your stress levels while lowering your self-esteem. And that’s not all. Negative self-talk can also lead to perfectionistic tendencies, limited thinking, and even relationship issues.

If you’re not making speaking positively to yourself a priority, then let this be the sign you’re seeking to make a change and get your name a little higher up on your list.

Related: Click here for some of my favorite self-love mantras

It all comes back to your mindset. Whether you believe you can or cannot do something, you’re absolutely right. If you look in the mirror and tell yourself you’re ugly, or fat, or not smart, or not capable, or can’t do anything right, or anything else you would NEVER tell someone else about themselves, you’re going to believe those words. And then you’re going to be even harder on yourself, feeling like a failure and telling yourself that you can’t succeed.

But if you can shift the narrative (and more importantly, your internal dialogue) and look in the mirror and tell yourself that you’re pretty, successful, capable, and so on, even if you’re in the process of increasing your confidence to truly believe those things, you’ll start to act the part too.

Think about it: Have you ever been in the gym feeling tired, and you tell yourself, “Okay, I can’t do this.” So you put the dumbbells down, or get off the treadmill, and you go home? What about the times you’ve told yourself, “I can lift one more rep!” or “I can stay on this machine for 30 more seconds.” And then you do?

Remember that the words you use do matter, and they directly relate to your effort and your outcome. Every single time. No matter the situation, and yes, even when you maybe don’t fully believe them. It’s kinda like “fake it until you make it.” Tell yourself positive affirmations until you believe them.

Studies have shown that repeating positive words to yourself can not only help bring you a sense of calm or peace, but doing so can also shift your perspective and beliefs about yourself. How powerful is that?!

Top Self-Talk + Self-Love Mantras

Need some inspiration for positive self-talk or self-love mantras that you can start telling yourself TODAY? Here are some ideas to get those positive juice flowing:

• I am capable.
• I am strong.
• I am worthy.
• I am beautiful.
• I can do this.
• I am intelligent.
• Yes, I can!
• I am powerful.
• My mistakes do not define me.
• I am kind.
• I am a good mother.
• I am enough. Right now.
• I will get through this.
• I am more than my emotions.
• Baby steps are still progress.
• I am better than the me I was yesterday.
• I am unique.
• This, too, shall pass.

Here’s one more cool fact about self-love mantras: When you start to believe you’re capable and worthy, you start to show up for yourself.

It becomes a habit that’s ingrained into your daily routine, and it’s another form of holding yourself accountable when YOU can believe in yourself enough to accomplish a task.

It’s really true what they say: You’ve possessed what it takes to succeed all along. You just have to believe that’s true.

What are some self-love mantras you repeat to yourself? Get into the habit of not only showing love to others, but to yourself too. Especially to yourself. It’s the very first step towards happiness, personal peace, and achieving any goal.

xo,

Related reading:

Top Ways Accountability Can Supercharge Weight Loss
Self-Love: Mantras to Help You Fall In Love With Yourself
Transformation 101: What happens when you fall in love with yourself
My Top 5 Ways to Fall In LOVE With Your Body