You probably have already heard that we should love ourselves before loving anyone else. In fact, if we don't love ourselves at least a bit, we are not even capable of loving any other beings for real. Loving yourself does not mean, of course, being selfish or thinking you need no improvement: it means just loving and respecting the person you are, with all you flaws and qualities.

People who suffer from low levels of self esteem and don't care for themselves enough are often prone to depression and deep chronic dissatisfaction. Their relationships, their job, their physical health and whatever happens to them is negatively affected by their emotional issues.

They harm themselves as well as the others. In some cases, this can even result in dangerous destructive and self-damaging behaviors. But, even if we don't consider extreme cases, most of us have some weak points that can undermine our confidence and even make it really tough at times.

Reasons can be many. Maybe we received a very strict education...or we were taught that recognizing our own qualities and merits is a just a horrible sign of arrogance and immodesty... or simply, some bad memories still hurt too much...

The only way to overcome this is letting yourself know how much you love you. This is much less obvious than you may think, because often our problems lay at a subconscious level and just admitting "Yep, I have to love myself more" is not enough.

Your inner self is like a young child: he/she needs hugs and practical proofs of love. But he/she needs also to be CLEARLY told you love him/her. And you have to sound convincing, otherwise "the child" will not trust you!

Thus, decide that you will take note of all your positive aspects and that you will stop over-criticizing yourself and the others. Cuddle yourself with little treats from time to time. Award yourself for little and bigger achievements...

Above all, begin your day telling yourself a big, warm, well deserved "I LOVE you!" Say it loud, with a bright smile, and thinking about something wonderful, so that you communicate enthusiasm and positive feelings to your subconscious. Possibly, do that in front of the mirror: it will be much more effective.

At the beginning it may feel funny or weird, but the more you practice it the easier it will get, and the more you will feel it. Don't be embarrassed: there is no reason to, and nobody needs to know about it. Literally hug yourself at least once a day. You will probably feel like hugging more also those you care about.

These may seem just children's games, but you are likely to notice positive effects on your mood and on the way you perceive yourself sooner than you may expect.