It really is true that the most important relationship you have is the one with yourself. That relationship has an effect on the ones you have with others as well as how you think and feel about them. We spend every minute of every day with ourselves, so it should be the one we're most committed to nurturing and improving. If you're one of the many who doesn't have the greatest relationship with yourself, there are several ways to change that for the better.
Forgive yourself
I used to have a hard time forgiving myself for things. I would actually beat myself up for weeks about mistakes until I felt like I had enough. One day I decided that it just wasn't a healthy way to be, so I spent time working on forgiving myself for the things I've done and considered it a clean slate. Now if I make a mistake, I acknowledge it, figure out what I've done wrong and move on. Once you can do all that for yourself, you'd be surprised how it feels like you're carrying far less weight on your shoulders.
Get in touch with your body
Every woman needs to know the sensual side of herself. Women know what makes them feel good in bed, but far too few know how to feel sexy on their own. The best way to do this is to take matters into your own hands - literally. There are so many options that it's nearly impossible not to find something that works for you. If you don't feel comfortable going into an adult store and checking out the different options, there are plenty of places to shop online.
There's also a variety of other ways to get to know the sensual side of yourself. The two ways that have worked the best for me have been taking up belly dancing and yoga, both of which have allowed me to get more in touch with my sensual side while improving the way that I feel about myself.
Acknowledge your flaws
Notice I said acknowledge your flaws and not beat yourself up over them. The former allows you to identify what you need to work on, then formulate a plan on how to make improvements. Don't expect things to change overnight, but the more committed you are to improvement, the better you'll feel about yourself.
Embrace your positive characteristics
We tend to focus more on our negative characteristics than our positive ones and it's about time that changed. Every day remind yourself how fabulous you are and what your best qualities are. It's one of the best ways to improve your relationship with yourself.
Meditate
Anytime someone asks me how they can relax better or get in tune with themselves, I always recommend meditation. It's a great way to clear your busy mind and focus on what's important which in this case would be the relationship with yourself. Knock out any negative thoughts you have and just focus on the positive.
Go on dates with yourself
So many get wrapped up in relationships with family and friends that they forget to cultivate the most important one. Go on dates with yourself and enjoy your own company whether you stay in or go out. Watch movies alone at home, have a spa day, lay out on the beach or just sit down by yourself to eat after you made your favorite meal. It allows you to just focus on yourself and enjoy your own company without any disruptions.
It may seem silly to work on cultivating a relationship with yourself, but when that's solid, everything else - including relationships with others - gets stronger and improves. You'd be surprised how much it can completely change your life.
More from Lauren R:
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