5 WAYS TO LOVE YOURSELF

By Yanni Brown

Hey lady, I'm sure you realize that you must love yourself before you can truly receive and enjoy the love from another. However, most of us are taught early on to take care of everyone else, and when we do this, we become chameleons.

More important, it's harder to expect someone to fulfill your needs when you don't know what those needs are.

Here are five tips to treat yourself the way YOU WOULD TREAT A GOOD FRIEND OR LOVER.

1. Forgive yourself! Your past is a reflection of who you were on your way to becoming.

2. Accept your flaws, better yet, admire YOUR PERFECTION. Wrap your arms around yourself (in private) and say, "I love you." Also, write yourself a love letter, or leave love notes (to yourself) around your home.

3. MAKE A LIST OF TEN THINGS THAT YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF. REVISIT THIS LIST DAILY.

4. Take a fantasy trip. Go on a fantasy date, and travel everywhere you've always wanted to visit. Or, buy yourself a fantasy gift; wrap it up, and put your gift aside to be opened at a later time. (Note: Budget wisely for your gift, and you will appreciate it. Avoid pity-party shopping, as you'll only feel guilty later).

5. Open yourself to being loved. Tear down those walls.

If you're in a relationship, or you may be ready for one, loving yourself puts you in a place where you can readily express love

AND FULLY RECEIVE IT.