Were you also brought up to think (compliments of your school-yard peers that didn't actually have a psychology degree at the time) that it was "arrogant or vain to love yourself"? That loving yourself was not only a liberty that you should not take, but it meant that you were not a good person.

I now think back now to try and remember the kids that blew off this old adage and did actually decide to love themselves (in a genuinely wholesome way). It would actually be an interesting exercise to see how their health, success and general happiness are today. I wouldn't mind betting that they are actually pretty healthy, happy and successful.

One of the greatest challenges a lot of people face, is that they experience the opposite of loving themselves. They don't love themselves. Which makes it a lot harder for other people to love them as well. But that is not the general point I want to make here.

The point I do want to make is really quite simple. It is that the more we love ourselves, the greater care we take of ourselves. Now I have said this before, and I will probably say it again. The greatest way to stop any negative vice you may have (excessive drinking, smoking, over-eating, etc) is to actually start to like yourself more. If you really really like yourself; when you put that cigarette up to your mouth, you will start to think..."why would I want to harm my body with this cigarette?"

It is like with your child, or someone that you really love. You don't want them to experience harm, or illness, or emotional pain. So you treat them really well. You encourage them to eat well, to stay active and you say nice things to them. Hmmm...there might be something in that...

So, again I have said this before, and I am not going to let up just now. Loving yourself more is not only good, but it is GREAT; and complimentary to good health, happiness, life balance and success. And one of the best ways I know, aside from having a wellness professional work with you, is to repeat over and over and over again..."I love and approve of myself".

Maybe that is what we should have been taught in the schoolyard, or as a formal part of the schooling curriculum. Where for 5 minutes each morning the kids stand with their hands on their hearts and say, "I love and approve of myself". I know it sounds a little touchy-feely (because it is opposed to our earlier social conditioning that to love yourself is arrogant) BUT boy would it make a difference in your 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, etc, etc...

PS: It is never too late to start. Start today by saying "I love and approve of myself"...and then continue saying it for maybe the rest of your life!! ;-)

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