You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection. ~Buddha

Appreciating ourselves may seem somewhat ego-driven. But consider the fact that each of our relationships depend upon our relationship with ourselves. If we don’t love ourselves, we can’t possibly love others. If we don’t respect ourselves, odds are we won’t make respectable choices. If we don’t value our time, we may not use time in a way that is the most valuable.

The way we treat ourselves determines how we treat the world around us. Just as important as acknowledging everything else in life that we are grateful for, it is equally important to recognize the good we each do each day for ourselves, for others and for the world around us.

Below are 5 things we can do to boost the appreciation of ourselves.

1. Acknowledge our accomplishments

We often compare ourselves against others. Their success, how much money they make, their possessions, even how many “Likes” they get on Facebook or other social media outlets. But rather than benchmarking ourselves against the accomplishments of others, we should consider what we have achieved.

When we focus on the truth of who we are and what we have accomplished, we can begin to appreciate ourselves, our talents and gifts and our contributions to the world.

2. Change the conversation in your head

When you find yourself thinking negative thoughts about yourself, your achievements and who you are, stop them in their tracks. Change your inner dialog to one of appreciation for who you are and what you’ve accomplished. Rather than telling yourself you can’t and won’t, or are in a state of constant struggle, look at the good.  Read more