Do you tend to focus on how you interact with others and how you’re perceived by others? Then, you end up not spending enough time cultivating a good relationship with yourself!
It’s definitely important to build good relationships with others, such as with a lover or your friends. But there is one relationship that is arguably the most important: your relationship with yourself. Your relationship with yourself is constant and consistent, and how you deal with yourself will reflect in everything you do and affect every decision you make.
Developing a strong, healthy relationship with yourself takes time and effort. But it’s never too late to cultivate good habits that can help yourself! You can start off with these simple tips:
Start journaling
One of the best ways to explore your thoughts and understand your emotions is to write them down. It helps you to become more in touch with yourself, clarify your thoughts and feelings, solve problems better, and even reduce stress.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Choose a notebook. Make sure it has enough pages for you to write regularly.
- Decide on a topic you want to write about. It can be about your daily routine, your favorite moment for the day, or something you’re grateful for. If you need writing ideas, there are also journaling prompts on the Internet.
- Set a timer for ten to 20 minutes. Ultimately, it’s still up to you how much time you want to spend journaling. It doesn’t have to take up a huge chunk of your day.
- Just keep writing. Let the words flow, and don’t stop to edit yourself. It doesn’t have to be perfect. The goal is to be present in that moment while writing.
- When the timer goes off, re-read your entry and reflect on your thoughts.
You can journal before you start your day, during your lunch break, or before you go to bed.
Know your boundaries
Setting healthy boundaries establishes what behavior and treatment you’ll accept from other people. It involves asserting your rights in a relationship, refusing inconsiderate treatment, and speaking up about your needs.
Some of the ways you can set boundaries is by consciously saying “no” to activities or invitations you feel might exhaust you, leaving conversations that drain your energy, or ending toxic connections that only burden you.
Knowing and sticking to the boundaries you’ve set for yourself limits your exposure to stress and protects your well-being. And always remember that you deserve peace and respect.
Try something new
Is there an activity or sport that you’ve always wanted to try? Go for it! Then, this might be your sign to go for it!
Change can be scary, and venturing into unfamiliar environments may seem daunting at times. But stepping out of your comfort zone can help you discover new things about yourself.
Gently challenge yourself in a way that is meaningful to you. You’ll get an amazing confidence boost when you accomplish something! But remember not to be too hard on yourself too.
Don’t be afraid to fail
Failure feels awful, but it can teach you a lot about yourself.
When you don’t get something right the first time, it’s an opportunity for you to take a step back, re-evaluate, and think of how you can improve. So that when you’re faced with the same or a similar challenge, you’re more prepared and probably more likely to succeed.
Trying and failing is a painful process. But it helps build character: you learn to trust yourself… and then you realize, it’s not the end of the world when things don’t go right on the first try.
Take a break from social media
Social media can sometimes be a trap where you’ll compare yourself to other people. But bear in mind that social media is a platform where people only post the best moments of their lives or the version of themselves they want others to see.
Take a break from social media. It can be for just one day a week, or a total detox that can last a few weeks. Doing so will allow you to be more present and live your life in real time.
When you stop comparing yourself with others or try to be like them, you also let go of unrealistic standards. The more time you spend focusing on the things you genuinely enjoy, the more peace you’ll have.
These are just a few ways how you can build a better relationship with yourself. There are different ways to do it. What’s important is you find what’s best for you and your lifestyle.
Remember that the first and most important relationship you have in your life is with yourself — so make sure that it’s a healthy and happy relationship!
Sources:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/11-ways-to-improve-your-r_b_10269696