Every therapy session I am told that I need to love myself. After hearing this for the millionth time, my therapist and I were able to nut out how to actually go about this.

The following seven steps have started me on the process of self love - something that I am tremendously grateful for.

**Step one**: Recognise how the past has led to my current behaviours and thought patterns.  
\- If I see the links from my past to now, I will know I am not fundamentally 'broken'.  
**Step two:** Acknowledge that I am human.  
\- Like everyone I make mistakes, and I am also capable of healing and growth.  
**Step three:** Be nice to my inner child (be my own parent).  
\- Give myself the things that I lacked growing up.  
**Step four:** Relax my high standards  
\- Stop holding myself to standards that I wouldn't hold others to (impossible standards).  
**Step five:** Stop comparing myself to others.  
\- I should only compare myself to myself. Personal growth is all that matters.  
    
**Step six:** Work on living in the present moment.  
\- Being mindful and present will help manage thoughts of the past/worry of the future.

**Step seven**: Forgive myself over and over again.  
\- For when I forget these lessons, for my mistakes and for everything that I would forgive others for as well.

I went into depth on each of these points here if you would like to read more: [https://medium.com/the-abundance-mentality/the-7-steps-to-self-love-39e50a2b0492](https://medium.com/the-abundance-mentality/the-7-steps-to-self-love-39e50a2b0492)