Written by Varenya Vijaykumar
We’ve all been there at some point or another in our lives. At a place where you feel so lonely, it feels like a silent weight is crushing you. Not everybody thinks like this, of course, but people often feel lonely, and loneliness does feel like a burden.
So keeping that in mind, here are some tips to help you learn to appreciate yourself.
Self-Reflection
Ordinarily, we don’t self-reflect because we hardly have any time or we don’t know how, or the act of self-reflection is something we actively avoid. Self-reflection is about understanding yourself; the good, the bad and the ugly. Accept those sides and undesrstand that it’s okay to have them because you are only human after all.
So, take this time to reflect. Go zen, be spiritual, and commune with your inner self. Discover the part of you that you love. Reconcile with the part of yourself that you dislike. Meditation is an excellent place to start. There are many benefits to meditation including lowering your stress levels, overcoming anxiety, reducing negative emotions and much more.
There are many ways to meditate, and research shows that meditation is an excellent way to self-reflect. Self-reflection is an excellent way to become self-aware and truly understand yourself. Find a way that works best for you.
Self-reflection is an extremely important part of the personal growth process. It allows you to comprehend the why of your own thoughts better, and identify self-sabotaging behaviours. It will help you come to terms with your sense of identity and to become your own force for positive change.
Self-Improvement
According to a study by the Mayo Clinic, self-improvement helps boost your self-confidence and your sense of self-worth. Once you’ve identified what you feel are aspects of yourself that could be improved, set goals for yourself. Give yourself targets and work towards them. They don’t need to be grand goals, something small works just as well but make sure they are achievable.
Find something you’re good at and then do it. Learn to avoid negative thoughts and focus on the positives. Self-improvement is an investment, and it takes time to yield results. It doesn’t just mean working on poor personality traits, it can even be something like exercising, improving your choice of food and regulating your daily routine.
Start waking up earlier in the day. Learn a new language, pick up an instrument, teach yourself how to code, or take up embroidery if you like. Don’t restrict yourself with perception; free yourself with the possibilities.
Self-Satisfaction
Self-satisfaction and fulfillment come from within. Take care of yourself, and the rest will follow. Work towards bettering yourself. Studies have shown that activities which you put towards self-care activate reward centres in your brain, releasing the same neurotransmitters that cause other feelings such as being happy and fulfilled.
Go to that concert you always wanted to, learn pottery, or maybe join a new book club! Make a list of things you always wanted to do, a list of things you enjoy and choose one that resonates with you and give it a test drive. Immerse yourself in what you do and bask in the satisfaction and joy it brings you.
As an example, I’m an avid gamer, and during the pandemic, I picked up a new game to play. It was a multiplayer game, and I didn’t have any friends who played it. And so I decided to create my own game team. I created a clan of my own, which evolved into a community. I don’t have the time these days to play, but I feel extremely happy knowing that I managed to create a space where others like me could come together and share in something they love doing.
A Little Advice From Me to You
I want to end this by telling you how I have dealt with periods of isolation and loneliness. Social validation does not mean much without self-validation. It’s very easy to hate yourself and sink into the cycle of self-hate and self-pity. Don’t let the temporary state of being alone, affect you too profoundly. Learn to appreciate yourself; instead of equating being alone as being lonely and look at it as me-time.
You will surely draw the right kind of people towards you, and form more lasting and meaningful connections. Put out good vibes, you’ll feel better, and you’ll get back positive vibes. Don’t dwell and cut out the negativity in your life. But in the meantime, don’t neglect yourself!
Enjoy your life, download OOt Social, and always try to be your own Polaris!
