Mega influencer and style icon Louise Roe is back with another guest post, and today she’s highlighting the importance of being kind to yourself. If you’re in need of a self-love reset, then scroll below and see what our friend Louise has to say.
Being kind and courteous to others is something we’re (hopefully!) taught from a young age, but isn’t it odd that we’re rarely taught how to give that same treatment to ourselves? We are all guilty of being harder and more critical on ourselves than we would ever dare be to another person. I guarantee you that everyone from the most beautiful of supermodels to the most successful of businesspeople still have moments of self-doubt and negativity towards themselves. Though it’s just recently becoming more widely discussed, the topic of self love is so important (I’ve dedicated a whole chapter to it in my book, Front Roe). Today I’m sharing with you my tips on how to be more kind and loving towards yourself, which seems like it should be so simple – but often isn’t!
Find your tribe:
If you think about it, you are the sum of the ten people most present people in your life. So think long and hard about whom you share your time, thoughts and energy with – as this is the energy you’re choosing to live in.  Sure, you can’t pick your family, but your friends, fitness instructor, assistant, barista and even your hairdresser are all people you can choose. Choose those who are your biggest cheerleaders, who build you up when you’re down, and whom you trust to speak the same of you behind your back as they would to your face.
Don’t be afraid to say goodbye:
Conversely – it can be hard, but one of the biggest steps in self love that you can take is to cut people out who bring stress and negativity into your life. If you leave someone feeling drained or worse about yourself, that’s never a good sign. If you’ve tried again and again to heal a relationship with someone that never changes, a difficult but important step may be to let go of that person until the situation can be more positive.
Treat yourself how you’d treat others:
Self-compassion is quite literally treating yourself with the same feelings of empathy and kindness that you’d give to the people you love. By turning these on yourself you can create a judgement-free safe space in which to care for yourself. Focus on your strengths – it sounds cheesy, but literally just make a list of positive attributes that you possess. When you find yourself being mean to yourself in your mind, stop and replace those thoughts with positive ones.
Make time for yourself:
Even if you can only steal just three to five minutes a day for you time, do it and engage in the moment. Think about taking care of yourself. Treating yourself. De-stressing, and breathing long, slow breaths. And being mindful. I know this sounds like a lot to take in at once, but if you’re only focusing on these ideas for five minutes a day at first, that’s doable, right? It might be that you take a walk, draw a hot bath, or just sit still on your favorite chair for those five minutes. The point is, it’s important to do (and get that phone out of the way, on silent!). I love to get up early and go to a pilates class – for me, this is the best start to my day because I get to exercise and release all those endorphins but also give my mind a rest, both of which really set me up for the day ahead.
Read the right books:
If you’re finding it particularly hard to be positive toward yourself, read some inspiring self-help books that can equip you with helpful tools to do so. Brené Brown’s “The Gifts of Imperfection” and “Start Where You Are”by Meera Lee Patel are both beautifully uplifting options.
Follow Louise here.