7 Steps to Finding Love

Do you find yourself wishing for more love in your life? Do you ever think, “Once I find my partner, then I’ll be happy”? Maybe you’re already in a relationship, but inside you know there could be a better connection, more romance and deeper love.

Do you find yourself doing things for other people, hoping to get that connection or love in return?

What if it wasn’t about that other person at all?

What if it was about learning to love the person desiring more love?

Just as money, an expensive car or a big title will never make you happy, no one outside you has the power to make you happy. You may feel loved for a little while, but it never lasts. It’s like going for the pot-of-gold at the end of the rainbow. It’s only an illusion. You can’t get there from here.

When was the last time you told yourself how beautiful, intelligent or wonderful you are? How often do you do something special for yourself, for no reason other than it brings you joy?

True lasting love comes from within.

What you see in your outside world is a direct reflection of what you feel in your inside world. When you love yourself, the world loves you back. When you feel love inside, you have love to share with others. When you love yourself, you attract more love. It’s as simple as that!

How do you love yourself? It begins with self-realization and self-acceptance.

Below are a few ways you can begin to honor your individuality and love yourself and, in turn, begin to attract and receive a greater love.

1. Stop comparing yourself to others. Just as each snowflake is different, nobody else is like you. You are not the other person. Embrace and be proud of your uniqueness.
2. Rediscover your values and begin honoring them. Remember what brings you joy and make choices to honor that. Think of a peak experience in your life, when things were grand. What values were you honoring that made that experience so delightful? Honor more of yourself.
3. Spend time with yourself. Slow things down enough to notice what feels good and what doesn’t feel good. Notice what robs you of your energy and leaves you feeling frustrated and stuck and stop choosing it. Instead, make choices that will inspire, feed and fulfill you. Notice what’s fun and begin to do more of that. Laugh out loud.
4. Pamper yourself. Set a nice table and make nice meals for yourself. Keep a tidy house. Buy yourself flowers. Get a massage. Take yourself on a vacation. Treat yourself like the special person you are.
5. Respect and honor your body. Know that everything you do to yourself has an impact on how you feel. Treat yourself with love. Eat nutritious foods, drink lots of clean water, sleep 8 hours and get some daily exercise, even if it’s only 10 minutes.
6. Spend time in solitude, feeling and honoring your emotions. This takes practice and courage, but I promise there is such freedom in this. Honor yourself and let go of old stories of victimhood and self-pity that you have been holding onto and numbing out in. Be fully present to your authentic emotions such as anger, fear and sadness. Feel them and release them, making room for lighter emotions such as love, joy and gratitude.
7. Spend time in nature. The natural beauty and rhythm that nature provides will help you to reconnect with your true self. Nature provides a great place to reconnect with yourself and authentically feel.

This Valentine’s Day, spend some time romancing yourself. Fall in love with the person who means the most to you. Begin to Open your unique Doors Within, sit comfortably in each room, and get intimately reacquainted and fall in love with yourself again!