When it comes to loving yourself, having a good self image is vital. While the physical body is not the source of your identity, it does play a role in how you interact with the world. Your feelings about your body can help or hinder your quest to love yourself better.

Eat Healthy. When thinking about the body, the most important thing to remember is that the body is a vessel for your mind. Your thoughts, qualities, skills, and talents find expression with the aid of the body. Therefore, in order to express yourself to the fullest, you need to keep your body in top shape. A big part of this is eating healthy. While you don't want to become obsessed with food, you should make a point of regularly eating healthy foods and not overindulging in sweets or fast food. The goal here is not to be supermodel thin or have a bodybuilder's physique, but simply to stay healthy. Eating right can make a huge difference in your energy levels and overall health. When your body feels good, you will be happier and free to focus on the tasks and activities that constitute your life purpose.

Dress Well. If you love yourself , show it by taking care with your appearance. Again, the point is not to develop an obsession with looks, but rather to express your self-confidence and self-esteem through the body. If you don't take the time to present yourself well to others, people will assume that you are not worth their time either. If you dress well, groom yourself well, and walk with poise and confidence, people will realize that you respect yourself. They will be drawn to your confidence and eager to learn about the qualities that make you unique. Even if you don't love your body yet, caring for it well will put you on the right track towards improved body image, and you will love yourself better as a result.

Exercise. Getting exercise is important because it boosts your energy levels and improves your health. Taking the time to exercise each day is a great opportunity to set and achieve goals, which builds your self-confidence. You can use affirmations while exercising in order to help yourself understand that you do have energy vitality, and strength. Once you tap these inner reserves through physical exercise, you can also begin to express them in other areas of your life.

Love Your Body. In reality, no one's body is perfect. Fortunately, it doesn't need to be. By learning to love your body as an extension of your mind and spirit, you can make great progress towards loving yourself better. When you seek to improve your body, don't look at the process as eliminating hated aspects like a fat tummy or toneless arms. Instead, look at it as a positive experience of self-improvement. Focus on creating a positive quality, like a flat stomach or strong arms. In this way you are adding to your good qualities, building yourself up rather than picking at negatives and accepting the idea that there is something "bad" in your identity that needs removal.

Author's Bio: 

Jill Magso is a member of the Silva Team and contributes to spreading enlightened ideas and sharing teachings about meditation practices. The Silva Method encompasses a variety of powerful exercises that take you deep into Alpha and Theta levels of the mind so that you can work within your subconscious as well as your conscious mind.