Being happy through self-love.

To love oneself is difficult for many – but it is actually easy to learn. Meditation and positive affirmations can increase self-esteem.

Life would be much easier if everyone showed more love and appreciation for themselves. This not only benefits us, but also the people around us. Yoga teacher Denise Kirchberg shows you a meditation with which you can learn to love yourself more.

Have you ever wondered why it is much easier for an “I love you” to get over our lips than for an “I love me”?

• Because we don’t want to be considered self-centered and arrogant?
• Because it is not appropriate to be one’s best friend?
• Because it is selfish to take one’s own needs and desires seriously and importantly?

We are constantly striving to please everyone and to be liked and loved by everyone. But we like to ignore the fact that we ourselves are the ones who fall by the wayside far too often. It wouldn’t look so bad to us to pay more attention to the inner dialogue and finally change it to the positive.

Self-love can be learned

“Self-love” in this case means the magic word and the good news first: You can learn it! It requires a little practice and patience, because love for yourself is not cultivated at the touch of a button. Rather, it is a process or journey that leads us step by step to come to terms with ourselves.

And when we are ready to become number 1 in our lives, we radiate this to the outside. Inner strength, new self-confidence and personal satisfaction can gradually pave their way and push us forward with a good portion of tailwind.

Meditation for more self-love

In order to cultivate this kind of self-love in us in the long run, I would like to recommend the practice of the so-called “Metta” or “Loving Kindness Meditation” – a particularly beautiful way to start the day positively and thus establish a direct connection to your inner being. You don’t have to shy away from that, because meditating, or in other words: directing your thoughts to a certain topic, is really something anyone can do! The technique does not require any special previous knowledge and is extremely easy to learn!

This is how self-love meditation works

Either stay in your bed directly after waking up – for the duration of the exercise – or take a comfortable sitting posture. This can be, for example, cruciate on the floor or sitting on a chair.

Come to your breath for a few moments with attention and feel how the abdominal wall rises with each inhalation and lowers again with the exhalation.

Then move with your concentration to the area in your body that you call “my heart” (this does not necessarily have to correspond to the physiological place of the heart) and imagine how this space becomes ever wider and more open.

Now repeat the sentence “May I be happy” a few times in your thoughts.

As soon as this sentence sounds harmonious for you after a few minutes, come to the next and repeated spiritually “May I feel safe and secure”.

Even if this sentence seems appropriate, it combines both wishes and repeats “May I be happy, may I feel safe and secure”.

Finally, add a third sentence that reads “May I be healthy”.

As soon as you have connected the first three movements with each other and they seem to be harmonious for you, add one last affirmation: “May I live carefree”.

Now repeat all four movements one after the other for a few minutes and always keep to the given order:

• May I be happy.
• May I feel safe and secure.
• May I be healthy.
• May I live a carefree life.

Finish the exercise by following the Metta wishes for a moment and then start the day full of energy, positivity and compassion for yourself.

Self-love and self-respect can become a habit.

After an initial bumpiness, these wishes gradually take on a rhythm and, above all, a deeper meaning. You will find that during this meditation you cannot think of anything else and that it is your self that is at the centre of the action. From this point on, self-love is continuously increased and nurtured. A delicate plant that can gradually develop into a deeply rooted tree.

Of course it requires a certain amount of discipline and regularity, because only then can the exercise gradually unfold its effect. It is best to make it a permanent ritual – just like brushing your teeth.

I wish you a lot of joy while practicing and don’t forget: It’s nice that ME exists!