It wasn't so long ago that I struggled to list even a single thing I appreciated about myself. Years of harsh self-criticism had left me feeling inadequate in nearly every way.I've been studying self-love, self-care, and well-being as a researcher. My hope is that sharing 150 things I've learned to love about myself can help others to begin their own healing by recognizing their own inner worth.
What is Self Love?
You know, for the longest time I really struggled with it myself. I was way too hard on myself whenever I made mistakes or felt like I wasn’t achieving enough. It caused me a lot of stress and unhappiness.
But then I started learning about what self-love really means – accepting yourself fully for who you are. It’s like meeting your best friend for the first time every day! When you slip up, a good friend would be kind and supportive, wanting to see you keep trying. That’s what I try to do for myself now.
It also means taking good care of yourself physically and emotionally. Making sure I get enough sleep, eat well, take breaks when I need them. And listening to what truly makes me feel good – whether that’s creative hobbies, time in nature, whatever helps recharge my batteries.
Prioritizing your own well-being is so important, because how can you show up for others from an empty place? Self-love helps me feel confident and at peace so I have more to give. I hope you’ll consider trying some small acts of self-care and compassion too. You really do deserve it!
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Buddha
How to Remind these 150 things to love about yourself?
One of the hardest parts about loving yourself is remembering all the reasons why when doubts start to creep in. Here are some ideas for how to remind yourself of the 150 things to love about yourself on an ongoing basis:
Make a list: Either keep the full list from the blog post handy as a reference, or distill it down to the 10-15 things most meaningful to you. Refer to it daily.
Journal your reflections: Pick a few items from the list each week to write about – why they’re strengths, stories that illustrate them. This helps them sink in.
Share with others: Tell your partner, friend or family member one thing you appreciate about yourself each day. Teaching others boosts our own learning.
Post reminders: Print your list and put it on the fridge, bathroom mirror or workspace to encounter daily. Digital notes or calendar prompts also work.
Celebrate progress: Give yourself credit for accomplishments, big or small, which demonstrate qualities on your list. This reinforces positive habits.
Notice everyday acts of self-love: Everything from daily skin care to relaxing activities to creative pursuits show you honor the special person you are.
Be patient: Loving ourselves is a journey, not a switch flipped overnight. Commit to this as a lifelong practice of daily growth and gratitude.
The keys are making it a consistent habit and focusing on small wins to develop a language of self-compassion.
“Loving yourself is a lifelong journey, not a destination. Keep your list of virtues close at hand and refer to it each day. Celebrate small acts of self-care, share your light with others, and be patient as positive habits take root. Focus on consistent acts of compassion, however small, to nurture the language of self-acceptance from within. In this way, you’ll reinforce your radiance and keep the flame of self-love burning bright each day.”
How Much Do You Really Love Yourself?
It’s easy to focus on our flaws and imperfections, but learning to appreciate our best qualities is so important for our confidence and happiness. So I want to share 150 things to love about yourself – your qualities, talents, character traits, and small acts of kindness both to others and yourself. How many of these speak to you personally? Let’s get started!
- Your sense of humor
- Your creativity
- Your compassion for others
- The smile that lights up your face
- Your ability to laugh at yourself
- Sticking with your commitments
- Your respect for other people’s boundaries
- When you go out of your way to help a friend in need
- Your curiosity about the world
- Your work ethic
- The little things that make you quirky and unique
- Your perseverance in difficult times
- Your kindness to strangers
- The hugs you give so freely
- How you always try to see the good in others
- The silliness that comes out when you’re relaxed
- Your passion for your favorite hobbies and activities
- Taking time each day to appreciate the small things
- The joy you get from making others smile
- Your support of causes you believe in
- Standing up for what you think is right
- Your way with words and storytelling abilities
- Your openness to new experiences
- How you encourage others to achieve their dreams
- Lending a listening ear to friends in need
- Sharing what you have with the less fortunate
- Cooking meals for your loved ones
- Greeting others with a warm hello every day
- Forgiving others for mistakes they have made
- Your bravery in trying new challenges
- Dancing like nobody’s watching
- The care you put into your relationships
- Apologizing when you’ve made a mistake
- Believing the best in people until proven otherwise
- Your appreciation for simple pleasures
- Accepting people as they are
- Giving compliments that lift others up
- Letting bygones be bygones
- Your positive mindset
- Loving sunsets and quiet moments in nature
- Being playful and whimsical at heart
- How hard you try to improve yourself each day
- Sending cards/texts to brighten someone’s day
- Laughing with friends and family
- Finding the bright side of challenging situations
- Your compassion towards animals
- Helping others achieve important milestones
- Lending an ear without judgment
- Figuring out solutions to problems
- Accepting that life doesn’t always go as planned
- Reading for fun and personal growth
- Admitting when you’ve made a mistake
- Recognizing that everyone struggles sometimes
- Making time for self-care daily
- Cheering for underdogs and rooting for potential
- Using your words to uplift rather than tear down
- Planting seeds of positivity where you can
- Sharing what you’ve learned from experiences
- Trusting in your ability to handle uncertainty
- Finding small ways each day to treat yourself
- Being dependably there for friends in need
- Cultivating empathy for others different than you
- Caring genuinely about important issues
- Making happy memories for those around you
- Practicing daily gratitude and acts of kindness
- Holding high personal values and morals
- Taking deep breaths when you need to destress
- Learning from failures and setbacks
- Trusting your instincts
- Walking with an air of confidence
- Listening without judgment and really hearing people
- Your adaptability and flexibility
- Pursuing knowledge and new skills for fun
- Making others feel valued in conversation
- Rooting for people quietly from the sidelines
- Bringing lightness and laughter to situations
- Inspiring others through hard work and dedication
- Being true to who you are despite trends or pressure
- Using your voice and vote to create positive change
- Trying new recipes and enjoying food
- Connecting with nature and finding peace outdoors
- Pursuing outlets that bring you joy and fulfillment
- Sharing your skills and talents to help others
- Finding interest in hobbies outside work/school
- Not sweating the small stuff and rolling with life’s punches
- Wishing the best for even difficult people
- Prioritizing happiness and meaningful relationships
- Pursuing knowledge and growth throughout life
- Helping uplift others with your unique perspective
- Knowing that challenges will pass in time
- Standing up for yourself respectfully when needed
- Being willing to try different perspectives
- Finding ways each day to spread warmth and hope
- Lovingly caring for your mind and body as a whole
- Displaying courage in uncertainty by keeping faith
- Taking time daily to appreciate your blessings
- Using your voice responsibly on important issues
- Keeping the doors open for healthy growth
- Extending grace and support where you can
- Your ability to spread goodwill through random kindnesses
- Pursuing wholesome interests and hobbies
- Taking pride in talents you’ve developed over time
- Finding the light in people through empathy
- Nurturing important relationships in your life
- Uplifting others with words of encouragement daily
- Making small talk to brighten a stranger’s day
- Learning to forgive yourself for past mistakes
- Embracing life as it comes with perseverance
- Having fun, even when times are hard
- Your charm and passion that attract good people
- Making comfortable, safe spaces where people belong
- Believing in continuous self-improvement
- Sharing help and wisdom freely from experience
- Keeping ties to your roots and culture
- Braving challenges with humor and optimism
- Learning a little something new each day
- Holding dear memories that warm your soul
- Choosing your inner circle carefully for connection
- Finding peace in solitude, even if briefly
- Taking pride in growing into your best self daily
- Uplifting others higher than putting them down
- Comforting friends gently and supporting them fully
- Cherishing happy memories and meaningful moments
- Sharing creativity through arts, crafts, or other talents
- Respecting diversity and championing inclusion
- Honoring your values while embracing differences
- Caring deeply about loved ones unconditionally
- Taking care of responsibilities responsibly and dutifully
- Giving others the benefit of the doubt respectfully
- Gaining wisdom from challenges you’ve conquered
- Treating your mind and body with loving care
- Lighting up any room with your positivity and charm
- Celebrating others’ success with sincerity
- Having compassion for people you’ll never meet
- Learning from mistakes gracefully and without shame
- Being true to yourself authentically despite image issues
- Accepting that life brings both pain and joy
- Maintaining healthy habits for balance and well-being
- Having tact when discretion is needed
- Bringing calmness and peace to tense situations
- Letting go of regrets and moving forward
- Making time for acts of service to uplift others
- Finding wonder in simple pleasures and beauty
- Upholding your integrity regardless of temptation
- Overcoming hardships with resilience and patience
- Teaching others through your vulnerability and honesty
- Forgiving yourself fully without resentment
- Maintaining optimism through challenges in life
- Your invaluable contribution and impact
- Your beautiful, loving soul
In the end, I hope reflecting on just a few of these things helps boost your self-esteem in a small way.
