Many times, we tend to give our kindness to others. But we often forget to be kind to ourselves. Some people think "loving yourself" is the same as "being selfish." That's not true. Selfish people think, "I'm more important than everyone else." They cross others' lines, only care about their own needs, and don't think about how others feel. Loving yourself means knowing, "I'm just as important as others." You respect others, but you also keep your own lines clear. You meet your own needs in a reasonable way. True self-love is taking good care of yourself. It's a simple, positive way to live—one that respects how you feel.

1. Cherish Your Body

Do you really listen to your body? Maybe you work even when you're totally tired, just to finish things on time. Maybe you keep scrolling your phone even when you're sleepy, because you want to relax a little. Loving yourself starts with taking care of your body. Notice how you feel. Rest when you're tired. Eat when you're hungry. Go to the doctor if you feel unwell—don't push through it. Your body is the only thing that stays with you your whole life. It deserves your care.

2. Don't Please Others—Have the Courage to Be Disliked

For work or daily life, we often try to please others. We forget what we really need. We're scared to say "no." We're scared people will dislike us. We're scared others will call us "cold." But we don't live to meet others' expectations. You need to know your own limits. If a friend invites you to a party you don't like—don't go. If a coworker gives you extra work that's not your job—you can say no. Don't worry too much about making others sad when you say no. Think about whether you'll be happy if you say yes. Hope we all have the courage to be disliked.

3. Stop Overthinking—Don't Fight Your Feelings

Feelings are like a flowing river. Sometimes they're strong, sometimes they're calm. You don't need to stop them. You also don't need to force yourself to "stay calm all the time." Laugh when you're happy. Cry when you're sad—it lets out your sadness and stress. Don't call yourself "weak" or "too sensitive" for feeling this way. The sky rains, then it clears up. Feelings come and go. Let them pass through you, like a river. More importantly, stop overthinking. If you mess up something, don't keep blaming yourself for small details. If you argue with someone, don't say you're totally worthless. Thinking too much about your mistakes traps you in bad feelings. It wastes your energy. Learn to live with your feelings. Don't fight against yourself. This way, you can stop feeling tired inside and move forward easily.

4. Embrace Your True Self

Loving yourself means accepting all of you—even your flaws. We often follow what others think is "good." We worry about our looks or our weight. But we forget: being healthy and full of energy is the most beautiful thing about a person. We push ourselves to "be perfect in everything." But we forget—everyone is lazy sometimes. Everyone makes mistakes. It's normal. Look in the mirror and say: "You're good just the way you are." The moon isn't always full. You can be lazy. You can make mistakes. You can be "not good enough" sometimes. These flaws make you unique.

5. Live in the Present Moment

Life has many things—failures, sadness, and regrets. Don't stay stuck in the past. Don't just dream about the future. Instead, enjoy the happy moments right now. Your plant grows two new leaves. You find a nice little restaurant on your way home from work. On a rainy day, you wrap yourself in a blanket and drink a warm cup of hot cocoa… These small daily moments are the real happiness we should care about. Make peace with the past. Cherish each moment now. Let the sun into your life. Then your future will be bright.

6. Spend Money on Yourself

Many people pick nice gifts for friends. They worry cheap gifts will make them look bad. But when buying things for themselves, they always choose the cheapest ones. They think, "It's okay, I can make do with it." If you're willing to spend on others, you should spend on yourself too! This doesn't mean you need to buy expensive things or waste money. It means, within what you can afford, give yourself a better life. Choose fresh, healthy food for your meals. Pick daily things that are comfortable and last long. Also, spend on your growth. Take a fun class to learn a new skill. Or start a hobby—this helps you find your strengths when you focus. Every time you spend on your growth, it makes you stronger for the future. It gives you more confidence and power to live your life.
Loving yourself is a lifelong lesson. You don't have to do everything at once. Even if you do just a few of these things, your life will get better. Oscar Wilde said: "To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance." Let's let go of what others expect from us. Stop being hard on ourselves. Learn to be kind to ourselves. Become the person who knows us best—and loves us most.