How to Love Yourself

Louise L. Hay

1.  STOP ALL CRITICISM.  Criticism never changes a thing.  Refuse to criticize       yourself.          Accept yourself exactly as you are.  Everybody changes.  When you criticize      yourself, your changes are negative.  When you approve of yourself, your changes are positive.

2.  DON'T SCARE YOURSELF. Stop terrorizing yourself with your thoughts.  It's a   dreadful way to live.  Find a mental image that gives you pleasure (mine is yellow      roses), and immediately switch your scary thought to a pleasure thought.

3.  BE GENTLE AND KIND AND PATIENT.  Be gentle with yourself.  Be kind to     yourself.  Be patient with yourself as yourself as you learn the new ways of thinking.  Treat yourself as you would someone you really loved.

4.  BE KIND TO YOUR MIND.  Self-hatred is only hating your own thoughts.  Don't hate      yourself or having the thoughts.  Gently change your thoughts.

5.  PRAISE YOURSELF.  Criticism breaks down the inner spirit.  Praise builds it up.           Praise yourself as much as you can.  Tell yourself how well you are doing with every        little thing.

6.  SUPPORT YOURSELF.  Find ways to support yourself.  Reach out to friends and allow            them to help you.

7.  BE LOVING TO YOUR NEGATIVES.  Acknowledge that you created them to fulfill         a          need.  Now you are finding new, positive ways to fulfill those needs.  So lovingly            release the old negative patterns.

8.  TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY.  Learn about nutrition.  What kind of fuel does your        body need  to have optimum energy and vitality?  Learn about exercise.  What kind of        exercise can you enjoy?  Cherish and revere the temple you live in.

9. MIRROR WORK.  Look into your eyes often.  Express the growing sense of love you       have for yourself.  Forgive yourself for looking into the mirror.  Talk to your parents            looking into the mirror.  Forgive them, too.  At least once a day say:  "I love you, I really   love you."

10. DO IT NOW. Don't wait until you get well, or lose the weight, or get the new job, or          the       new relationship.  Begin now--do the best you can.