7 Reasons You Should Love Yourself

By Farida Wongsangiam

          The TV-Show "13 Reasons Why" has become really popular everywhere. No matter if is on social media, TV or in our daily conversations. I feel that all of us have or are currently struggling with the feelings of imperfection and insecurity, just like the lead character, Hanna. Many questions can pop up in your head while you're feeling insecure.

 

For example: 

Why are my arms/legs so fat? Why is my butt so big? Why do I have so small boobs? Why do I not look like all those Victoria Secrets models, no matter how much I workout or diet? 

Maybe you're wondering what's wrong with your appearance and character since nobody seems to like you and ask you out. 

Or maybe you feel left out because you don't have the same interests as your other friends or classmates and you can't relate to their conversations? 

Let me tell you this, all of these questions are actually only happening because you don't appreciate yourself enough and feel like your inferior than others. 

However, that is NOT true!!

Growing up, I personally had all those questions, and more, running around in my head making me feel insecure. And being a Muslim in a Non-Muslim society AND a Thai in a foreign country didn't help boost my confident at all. It wasn't until I grew up and understood the uniqueness of us humans, with the help of motivations and inspiration from my sister, that I started to delete theses questions self-acceptance. Therefore, I decided to write this article about 7 reasons why loving yourself can be physically and mentally beneficial for both you and the people around you that can hopefully realize that you that "every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top." 

1. Confidence boost - 

The first and most obvious thing about loving yourself is that it really makes you believe the truth that you an do anything you put your mind into. Your confident will increase and be better helping you realize that even though you might suck at some things, you are indeed as good as everyone else, maybe better in some things. 

2. What others think of you will be less important - 

Feeling appreciated by the people around you and being praised at can be a very important thing many people need to keep on fighting. However, once you start feeling proud of yourself for your achievements, you will realize that sometimes others opinion about you doesn't have an impact in what you're doing or what you believe in. In some situations, having people look down on you have actually help boost your motivation. 

3. Proudness and acceptance from people around - 

While loving and accepting yourself for who you are can be a real struggle sometimes, it can help you gain the respect and appreciation of the people around you that you need. Don't forget that not every comment about you is important or true. Focus on the feedback from your close, trustworthy and well-wished ones, like close family, friends or colleagues. 

4. Motivation to reach your dreams - 

As I said before, when you've learned to love and accept yourself for who you are, the feedback you get from people can be a positive energy to keep fighting through your obstacles and prove both them and yourself wrong that you can do anything you out your mind to. 

5. Optimism - 

Looking at the world in a positive aspect is another thing that will happen when you learn to appreciate yourself. Because nobody can change your perspective about the world but yourself. It may depend on the experiences or events you've gone through in life. But then again it is up to you how you will look at those, so called mistakes or bad situations. Will they be a mistake you'll forever regret by mopping around wishing you could turn back time OR will you accept them, learn from them, move on and make the future better? 

6. Stability in a relationship - 

Many people around me has proven this thing to be very true. If you do not know yourself and do not know how to love body and soul, how do you accept anyone else to do the same. Nobody knows you better than yourself. You were created just perfect just the way you are. Take time to get to know yourself better, find out more about yourself and love those aspects. 

7. Happy you, happy life - 

No better way to end this list than to say that your life will be SO MUCH better once you've learned to love yourself. You will see the light in every tunnel you go through no matter how long it is and the sun will almost always peek out, even in a dark and dangerous thunderstorm. 

With all of this said, I truly hope that you will get some benefits from this article and that it will help you realize that "you're amazing, just the way you are." You might have a big butt or small arms, but whatever you feel insecure about, remember that you are special and no one is unique like you. 

Love yourself in order to learn to love the world around you.