Self-Love & Success: Why You Need One to Have the Other

It’s very simple: a lack of self-love leads to wandering doubts that stand in the way of success. But if it were as simple as snapping our fingers and saying, “Okay, I love myself now,” then you probably wouldn’t be reading this article.

When we’re stuck in a cycle of negative thinking, we not only get in the way of our own success, but we also attract the same negativity from the world around us. In my book, Be the Magic of You: Tools to Transform Your Life I guide readers through a transformational journey that includes changing our internal dialogue from negative to positive, stepping outside our comfort zones, building a rock star team of supporters, expressing gratitude, celebrating ourselves and—eventually—stepping into our own power, realizing self-love, and reaching our goals.

The idea of success born from self-love isn’t unique. Jack Canfield, the author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series—and who wrote the foreword to my book—also believes that self-love is an essential ingredient for success. His recipe for self-love is one-part gratitude, one-part positive thinking, and one-part personal accountability.

Watch this Interesting Video by Jack Canfield >

I particularly like that Jack stresses the fact that we—and only we—are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If we’re “stuck in the muck,” feeling mediocre, lacking zest…it’s up to us to make positive changes to transform our lives!

Here are simple self-love practices that can be integrated into your daily routine…or not:

Indulge: Maybe you really want a scoop of coconut almond chip ice cream, or maybe you’d really rather take that warm yoga class than scrub your bathroom. What better way to love yourself than to bring pleasure into your life? Of course, indulge in moderation. If you overindulge, you’ll just beat yourself up…and that is the antithesis of self-love.

Be happy: Oftentimes, we develop “healthy” habits but never stop to recognize how these habits are making us feel. If you use herbal therapies, get 60-minutes of cardio every day, listen to self-help podcasts, have given up caffeine… just check in with yourself and make sure these healthy habits are actually contributing to your overall happiness.

Experiment: So, everyone has told you how beneficial meditation is. You’ve read studies about it. You’ve tried to meditate so many times, each time thinking, “This is going to be the time I actually enjoy this.” But you never do. It’s okay for a healthy habit to not be your thing, but just keep experimenting until you find your thing.

Accept yourself, good and bad: While moving towards an attitude of self-love challenges us to change our internal dialogue from negative to positive, no one can escape the fleeting negative thought, fear or emotion. Give yourself permission to accept and explore those emotions, in an open mental space… without judgement.

Just stop: Find a patch of grass, lie down, and watch the clouds roll across the afternoon sky. Swing on a swing. Sit on your patio with a cup of coffee and just watch the birds fly by. Sometimes just stopping and giving your body time and space to quiet down is the most powerful expression of self-love we can perform.

Personally, I’ve found emotional freedom technique (EFT) to be a highly effective therapeutic modality, one that has helped me eliminate the emotional blocks that were preventing me from realizing my dreams. In my book, I provide EFT exercises to support each step of the transformational journey from mediocrity to magnificence.

If you’re lacking self-love and ready to make incredible changes in your life, the time is now. At the risk of sounding self-promotional, I really encourage you to check out my book. I held off on writing this book for years and years, but at the encouragement of my family and friends—the people who had witnessed my own personal transformation—I finally put my process into words to share with the world. My recommendations will work—but you have to be ready and take that first step.

Your Transformational Journey Can Begin Today!

Why put off until tomorrow what can be done today? Buy a copy of Be the Magic of You: Tools to Transform Your Life and take that first, big step towards trading in a life of mediocrity for the amazing life you deserve! You can buy the book online, right now.