When you have a selfless heart, you might accidentally neglect your own mind and body. You might become so obsessed with the idea of taking care of others that you forget you should be taking care of yourself first. Instead of assuring your needs are being fulfilled, you might overlook your own issues in order to focus on healing your loved ones.
As refreshing as it is to see a generous soul like yours, it’s time to start taking the energy you usually pour into other people and directing it inwards. It’s time to stop placing your own name so low on your list of priorities. The same happiness that you have been desperate to give to your loved ones is happiness you deserve as well. You deserve to smile when you see the person staring back at you in the mirror. You deserve to feel as beautiful on the outside as you do on the inside.
Self-care is not selfish. It’s a way to soothe your mind and body, to nourish your skin, and to grow your confidence. When you practice self-care, you’re admitting you’re worth the effort. You’re admitting you care about yourself and your future. You’re admitting you matter.
Here are some encouraging reminders to help you along your self-care journey, because it’s not always easy to put yourself first:
When you practice self-care, it will help you grow more confident.
Confidence starts from within. The first step to taking better care of yourself is retraining the way you speak about yourself. Whenever you have the urge to criticize your reflection, you should replace your insults with compliments. You should remind yourself that, even though you’re far from perfect, there are countless beautiful things about you. Your smile. Your strength. Your soul.
When you practice self-care, it will help you grow more comfortable with your authentic self.
Self-care provides you with one of the most overlooked, underrated gifts — me time. It gives you the chance to get to know yourself better, to learn how your mind and your body function, to discover what means the most to you and who you really are when no one else is looking. When you spend enough time alone, you’ll start becoming more and more comfortable with yourself. You’ll realize you’re beautiful exactly the way you are.
When you practice self-care, you’ll have an easier time letting loose and having fun.
When you turn your self-care into a consistent habit, you’ll be able to go out with friends and flirt with crushes without feeling self-conscious. You’ll genuinely enjoy the moment without worrying about what you look like or whether you’ve said something silly. You’ll be too focused on having fun to worry about your old insecurities.
When you practice self-care, you’ll escape your comfort zone.
It’s dangerous to spend too much time inside of your comfort zone. Even though it feels cozy, you’re not going to grow when you’re stuck in a rut. You’re only going to experience the same things day after day, month after month, year after year – and that’s no way to live.
Your self-care routine is going to give you a surge in confidence and energy, which will encourage you to embrace change and embark on new experiences. Your newfound attitude is going to push you into trying new things. It’s going to inspire you to put yourself out there, to live the life you deserve. 
