Love paves the way to self-healing, and it can help with managing anxiety. Though there isn’t one single way to release anxiety, the regular practice of self-love can help decrease anxious thoughts and improve overall mental health. It all comes down to the decisions you make, the path you take, and the attitude you choose. So why not pick the best one? After all, you get one life to experience, and you have free will, so why not spend it with conscious, mindful living?
At the end of the day, your quality of life depends on how you own your life, and no one else can do that for you. Only YOU hold the power to make the best decisions and choices for you. People look for answers outside of themselves, but why don’t we ask our inner selves for the answers and wait to see what shows up organically? You can’t make everyone happy, so start making yourself a priority by owning your own journey.
Here are five ways to pave your own path to self-healing.
1. Love yourself
How many times a day you tell others that you love them? How many times do you look at someone and admire their accomplishments, beauty or career? What about recognizing yourself for all the hard work you have done to be where you are today? For how caring you are for being there for friends or family? Say good things to yourself and pat your back.
Say “I love you” to yourself many times a day while looking in the mirror. It’s an important exercise referred to as “mirror work,” taught by Louise Hay. Mirror work has been taught for many years to help people improve self-confidence and self-compassion. You can’t build a great life or have what you want without having self-belief and confidence in yourself first!
2. Appreciate where you are
Appreciation can play a key role in our journey to a joyful life. The breaths we take and the smell of roses is such a gift, and remembering that on a daily basis can keep us in a calm, balanced mental space. Often we complain about where we are in life, but that does more harm than finding solutions. Most of the time, it’s our own lack of faith in our abilities that holds us back. No one is taking anything away from you. You must start to think from a gratitude mindset to keep balance, emotionally and mentally.
3. Treat yourself with kindness
If you’re single, gift yourself flowers! You don’t have to wait for a boyfriend to show up before you can enjoy the little pleasurable experiences or travel to romantic destinations. Get out, go solo to that movie, take that cruise! Every day is a special — don’t let a challenging couple of minutes ruin your whole day.
4. Eat mindfully
Our day-to-day choices can really set the tone of our life. How about eating greens instead of that bag of chips, or drinking beet juice instead of eating ice cream? I am not trying to compare these popular unhealthy snacks, but let’s be real: The better we eat, the better we look and feel. It comes down to making smart choices. Once you have reached your ideal weight, having a cheat meal once a week is a treat.
5. Say “thank you” often
How about calling that friend who helped you with your presentation? When did you last tell your mother, “Thank you for always being there for me?” How about sincerely thanking the neighbor who watches your cat or dog when you travel? There is always something nice to say to someone, and when we thank them, we show appreciation for them.
Don’t let anyone be the boss of your emotions. Practice self-appreciation and appreciation for others and flow through life with an easy and joyful attitude. Let life bring the best for you. After all, we get what we believe in, so the choice is yours. 
