February.

Most people associate this month with Valentine’s Day and Black History Month. What many people may not know is that February is International Boost Self-Esteem Month. 

For those who were unaware prior to seeing this title, International Boost Self-Esteem Month is an important time to focus on loving oneself and accepting who we are. Self-esteem is the key to leading a happy, fulfilled life and making the most of our potential. In this blog post, I will discuss the importance of self-love, explore practical tips to build self-esteem, and provide resources for further reading. Join me as we work together to put our best selves forward!

The Importance of Self-Love

The importance of self-love and self-acceptance cannot be overstated. Self-love is simply recognizing our own strengths and weaknesses objectively and being comfortable - and even proud - in our own skin. And self-acceptance is the ability to forgive our flaws and accept ourselves for all that we are, which allows us to move forward in life without burdening ourselves with feelings of guilt or shame.

Viewing our mistakes as learning experiences, instead of failures, is self-love and self-acceptance. Recognizing that we are allowed to make mistakes is self-love and self-acceptance. Celebrating on our successes and appreciating our own accomplishments, no matter how small, is self-love and self-acceptance. They both lend to building a foundation for our self-esteem and confidence in our abilities.

The development of self-love also opens us up to connect with more people and create meaningful relationships. When we allow ourselves to receive love from others, it reinforces the idea that we are worth loving and fosters an environment of self-care. Additionally, those who feel secure in their own self-worth often foster more fulfilling connections with friends, family, and romantic partners.

Finally, self-love and self-acceptance give us the courage and strength to face life’s challenges head-on. We are better able to process and understand difficult emotions, as well as better cope with them, when we have a solid foundation of self-love. This allows us to take risks, try new things, and not be afraid to fail.

Positive Habits Transform Into Positive Self-Esteem

We are what we do. Plain and simple.

Our lives are mainly a summation of our habits.

Here are 10 practical habits that you can employ in your self-love arsenal TODAY, because NOW is the time.

We encourage you to practice these tips religiously for 21 days, and turn them into positive habits in your life.

• Create daily affirmations that reflect your core beliefs and values.

• Visualize yourself as the greatest version of yourself

• Do mirror work (Mirror work involves gazing at yourself in the mirror while saying positive affirmations such as "I love myself," and "I am strong.")

• Set achievable long-term and short-term goals for yourself and work towards them.

• Learn to recognize when negative self-talk arises and counter it with positive thoughts.

• Take time to recognize and celebrate even the small successes in your life.

• Surround yourself with people who bring out your best qualities and lift you up.

• Focus on the present instead of ruminating on past failures or worrying about the future.

• Practice self-care by treating yourself with kindness, understanding, and respect.

• Make an effort to connect with others and build meaningful relationships.

Practicing self-love and self-acceptance during International Boost Self Esteem Month can make all the difference. By learning to love and accept ourselves, we can open the door to a healthier, happier version of ourselves.