We may enjoy the odd selfie, some more than others (I’m talking to you Kim K!) but generally speaking if we really think about it, how do we feel about ourselves? We know how we feel about others most of the time, but to look inside ourselves is a little more can sometimes feel slightly uncomfortable.

Life coach Jacqueline Hurst explains, “There is one basic human need that everyone wants, desires and is perpetually looking for. It’s called love, we look for love from; our partners, our kids, our parents, our friends, we look for it everywhere, except from ourselves.

I know you think I’ve gone all self-help self-love blah blah on you, but wait, let me explain a little further. Contrary to popular belief, self-love does not make you; self-centred, narcissistic or conceited. In fact, it’s pretty much the opposite. It makes you happier, and in turn able to give more.”

Here are Jacqueline’s top tips on how to start loving you…

Treat yourself in the same way that you treat loved ones.

When you feed your kids, you sit them down at a table to eat their meal. Are you doing the same for you? When your partner wants that special handbag or manbag (!) but won’t buy it for themselves and so you go and do that for them, are you spoiling yourself in the same way? The point here is that when you love others you treat them well. Start to treat yourself well. In the words of L’Oreal ‘you are worth it’.

Stop judging yourself.

Speaking to yourself in a negative way is simply mean. We are all learning and growing, and no one gets it right all the time, neither do they have a perfect life. When you give up on beating yourself up, that’s when the real love comes in. If you wouldn’t speak to someone you love in the way that you speak to yourself, it is time to lock that stuff down and change your tune. Think of a baby learning to walk. It falls down a lot and it gets back up again, smiling, and gives it another go. It doesn’t berate itself. The tip here is this – when you judge you miss the lesson.

Say no.

Saying no does not make you unlikable or mean. It doesn’t make you a bad person; it makes you clever. If you really want to love you, you will take care of you and not let yourself become a people pleaser. Loving yourself means respecting yourself and that means you are your priority. You don’t ever have to do anything, it is always a choice, and in that respect you can choose to say no. Give yourself some self respect and time back by getting on the no-bus. You will be amazed at how things change, how much more time you have, and how great your ‘self’ will feel when you start to put you first.

About Jacqueline Hurst.

Jacqueline Hurst is a trailblazing ‘mind’ expert, knowledgeable public speaker and ground breaking life coach. Her worldwide success is based in her unique approach and coaching methods. Jacqueline works in her private practice helping clients with a wide variety of issues, specialising in emotional eating and body image. Her online school ‘The Life Class’ is also paving the way for a new generation of self-development for both people who wish to become life coaches themselves, and for those of us who want to learn how to live more optimally for themselves by thinking, behaving and acting with a higher degree of emotional intelligence. Jacqueline’s private practice can be found here and her school, here.