Loving Ourselves: Self-love and self-compassion

Self-love (sometimes called “self-compassion”) is the belief that you are a valuable and worthy person who deserves to be treated with love and kindness.

Why is it important to love ourselves?

When we love ourselves, we feel good about who and what we are. It’s not being selfish. It’s about allowing ourselves the same love, kindness, compassion and support that we’d show our friends or family; and not judging ourselves too harshly.
It’s important because it helps us to be stronger and happier people:

How can we practise self-love?

There are many things we can do to practise self-love and help it develop:

How can we help others to love themselves?

Self-love is similar to, but not the same as self-esteem . Encouraging our friends, family and classmates to feel good about themselves will develop both their self-love and self-esteem.  We can also persuade them not to beat themselves up or blame themselves at those times when things don’t go so well.

Now you have read through our Fact Sheet, have a go at Harold's quiz below:

 

References

Huffington Post, 15 February 2017. “Self-love Must Come First: How to Love Yourself”: author Joyce Marter. Retrieved from: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/joyce-marter-/selflove-must-come-first-_b_9237282.html 4 December 2017.
Psychology Today, 29 June 2017, “* Powerful Steps to Self-love”: author Melanie Greenberg. Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201706/8-powerful-steps-self-love 4 December 2017.
Women and Children’s Health Network, 14 November 2016. “Being Happy”. Retrieved from: http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&np=287&id=2243 4 December 2017.

Useful links

Life Ed factsheets “What is Self-esteem?”, “What is Resilience?

Pharrell Williams, 21 Nov 2013. “Happy” Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM 4 December 2017.

The song “Feelin’ Good”: Avicii https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S565hk5T7SA  or Ed Sheeran https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGBpp5L5Aloor