Love. Where would humanity be without it? This week will be focusing on two types of love: self-love and selfless love. Self-love is defined as having regard for one’s own happiness or advantage. Selfless-love is defined as thinking of others before yourself or giving to others without personal gain. So how can we practice these two types of love?
3 ways to practice self-love:
1. Create a morning affirmation
Set the tone by starting each day by telling yourself something positive. Compliment yourself on how nice you look today or how well you handled a situation. Basically, anything that will make you smile. That daily re-enforcement can improve your self-confidence over time.
2. Eat Right!
There are countless studies on how eating nutritious foods can have a positive effect on your mental health and overall confidence. So instead of eating that tub of ice cream, maybe you can indulge in some fruit instead. You only get one body in this life, so treat it right.
3. Exercise
Get your groove on and move that body around! As we all know, exercise works in tandem with eating healthy. And those two together can equal a kick-ass mind, body, and soul.
3 ways to practice selfless love:
1. Listen More
One of the best ways to show your love and compassion for someone is by giving them your undivided attention. All of us go through some sort of adversity in our lives. So you could help relieve some of the stress by lending an ear and opening your heart.
2. Donate
There are many people who are struggling, especially in these times. If you can, it wouldn’t hurt to donate some money to charity or a family in need. Can’t donate money? Why not donate your time? You can volunteer at homeless shelters, foster homes, dog shelters, and more.
3. Practice Patience
We live in a world where patience is scarce. We can order (almost) anything we want with the swipe of our finger. We are in an age of instant gratification which contributes to our society’s selfish behavior. Maybe next time you’re waiting for your Starbucks drink, don’t be so quick to get frustrated if they’re taking longer than usual. Put things in perspective and realize that they’re trying their best. Practicing patience is a powerful way to improve your selflessness.
Check back next week as we explore more of the ins and outs of love and its role in creating your dynamic life & career!