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	<title>self compassion Archives - Junhong Cao, Ph.D. (Dr. June)</title>
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	<title>self compassion Archives - Junhong Cao, Ph.D. (Dr. June)</title>
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		<title>How to Cope with a Bad Day at Work</title>
		<link>https://drjunhongcao.com/how-to-cope-with-a-bad-day-at-work/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Victoria]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Aug 2022 19:05:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anxiety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[burnout]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coping skills]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[English]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[job burnout]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mental health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online counseling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online therapy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self compassion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self-esteem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self-love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[work burnout]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[work stress]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>Ever wonder how to reduce work stress? How to deal with burnout at work? or how to get over a bad day at work? If you go to work every day, you know the stress it can bring. Some days you feel motivated and excited to be on the job. On these days, your work <a class="read-more" href="https://drjunhongcao.com/how-to-cope-with-a-bad-day-at-work/">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://drjunhongcao.com/how-to-cope-with-a-bad-day-at-work/">How to Cope with a Bad Day at Work</a> appeared first on <a href="https://drjunhongcao.com">Junhong Cao, Ph.D. (Dr. June)</a>.</p>
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							<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ever wonder how to reduce work stress? How to deal with burnout at work? or how to get over a bad day at work? If you go to work every day, you know the stress it can bring. Some days you feel motivated and excited to be on the job. On these days, your work gets recognized, you&#8217;re laughing with your favorite coworker, you have a tasty lunch, or you get to leave early. However, good days can feel far away sometimes at work. There will be days when work feels draining, and you reluctantly push yourself to get through.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">How to cope with these problems? This article will improve understanding and discuss tips of healthy coping.&nbsp;</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Could Cause Stress and a Bad Day at Work?</span></h2>
<h3>1. Issues with Coworkers</h3>
<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-5869 size-medium" src="http://drjunhongcao.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/elisa-ventur-bmJAXAz6ads-unsplash-1-300x200.jpg" alt="causes of work stress" width="300" height="200"></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Depending on where you work, you may love or hate your coworkers. There are some places where coworkers become your best friend or even begin to feel like your second family. That is, these people make you feel supported, help you with tasks that need assistance, and create an overall welcoming environment.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is definitely great to have coworkers like this! Unfortunately, some people do not have this same luxury. Sometimes people have horrible relationships with the people they work with or for. In other words, some coworkers will treat you with hostility and make you feel like you are a bother for asking questions or needing assistance. Other times, there is nothing overtly wrong with the relationship between you and your coworkers, but you all just don&#8217;t click. As a result, you may feel like you have no friends at work, lonely, and that your days are full of meaningless small talk and awkwardness.&nbsp;</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2. Troubles with Your Boss</span></h3>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Theoretically speaking, a boss should be the person in the office, ensuring a happy and welcoming atmosphere is maintained. Unfortunately, this isn&#8217;t always the case; they might be at the head of your toxic work environment. <a href="https://www.gallup.com/workplace/388685/2022-employee-engagement-guide.aspx?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=new_workplace_non_branded_employee_engagement&amp;utm_term=strategies%20to%20reduce%20employee%20turnover&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw3eeXBhD7ARIsAHjssr-hRIObOFZO1h3QRDZOYUpQH-9pRsjiKZIMNHmU_jpNO3G1Ntr87nkaAifREALw_wcB">Gallup&#8217;s Guide</a> shows that one of the top reasons for an employee to leave the job is poor management and leadership.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In fact, some bosses can be quite toxic to deal with. They may micromanage you; you constantly feel like you are being watched under a lens by someone waiting to scold you for a mistake you made. Other times, bosses can make you feel like you don&#8217;t matter to them or the company. You&#8217;ll feel disposable and put up with their constant criticism or disappointment.&nbsp;</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">3. Difficult Customers, Clients, or Patients</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sometimes it&#8217;s not necessarily the place or people you work with; it could be the people you help or assist that make you feel terrible. Admittedly, some people treat workers horribly. People will be rude to servers, yell at customer service representatives, or just have overall negative attitudes that they spread to everyone they encounter that day. Even if you try your best to help someone, you may still receive rude behavior. Sure enough, this behavior makes you feel awful and ruins your day!</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">4. Mistakes Were Made</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">No matter how hard you try, mistakes are still inevitable. As a result, you may have a lousy work day because you learned you made a mistake. Without a doubt, mistakes can be embarrassing, especially if your other coworkers notice them. Your boss may be understanding and give you some helpful guidance, however other times they may get mad at you or call you into their office. Very often, this meeting can ruin your day!</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">5. All Work and No Play</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We dedicate a lot of our lives to work. Obviously there will be times when you might miss your family or friends because work starts consuming your life. Do you remember the last time you had fun or went out? If you are a parent, you may get home late from work and miss eating dinner with your family or putting your kid to bed.&nbsp; Obviously this lack of time with your loved ones can make your day feel empty and frustrating.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Actually overwork is another <a href="https://teambuilding.com/blog/employee-turnover">major reason why employees quit their jobs</a>. Constant overwork apparently leads to burnout and turnover. It could easily cause both physical and emotional exhaustion. That is, it does not only make a bad day, but a bad job.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 28px; font-weight: 400; color: #006489; text-align: center;">Work Stress and Burnout Affects Mental Health</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-5870 size-medium" src="http://drjunhongcao.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/christian-erfurt-sxQz2VfoFBE-unsplash-300x225.jpg" alt="work stress causes mental health issues" width="300" height="225"></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When too many bad days at work accumulate, they could easily turn to work stress and burnout. Work can become a huge source of stress in our lives. We can get stressed over many things in a professional setting. Typically these stressors can include:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Deadlines and work piling up</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Career changes or thoughts of switching professions or jobs</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">To-do lists that feel like they will never get done</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lack of work-life balance&nbsp;</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The stress if being overworked, underpaid, or more</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Actually constant </span><a href="https://mindconnectionsnyc.com/stress-management-activities-and-tips-for-teens-and-parents/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> over work can be a sign you have <a href="https://drjunhongcao.com/our-specialties/anxiety-therapy-nyc">anxiety</a>. According to </span><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003211.htm#:~:text=Stress%20is%20a%20feeling%20of,danger%20or%20meet%20a%20deadline."><span style="font-weight: 400;">MedlinePlus</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, stress is &#8220;a feeling of emotional or physical tension.&#8221; The </span><a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/so-stressed-out-fact-sheet"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NIMH</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> states that anxiety usually lives within someone and is chronic. Stress usually goes away after the agitating experience or events pass, whereas someone with anxiety feels symptoms constantly. Work can cause a lot of stress in someone&#8217;s daily life.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Also, many people, unfortunately, struggle so much that they face </span><a href="https://mindconnectionsnyc.com/workplace-burnout/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">burnout</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The </span><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642#:~:text=Job%20burnout%20is%20a%20special,isn't%20a%20medical%20diagnosis."><span style="font-weight: 400;">MayoClinic</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> defines job <a href="http://drjunhongcao.com/tips-for-young-people-to-overcome-burnout/">burnout</a> as work-related stress that exhausts people physically and emotionally. </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4911781/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Researchers</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> suggest that people with burnout face intense exhaustion, aversion to their job, and meaninglessness in their work. Without a doubt, job burnout takes the enjoyment someone once had for their career and squashes it in its tracks.</span></p>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How to Cope with Work Stress and a Bad Day at Work</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We spend most of our days during the week at our job and invest so much time into it. Since we dedicate so much of our lives at work, obviously it is disappointing when we have bad experiences. It feels like we put so much effort in only to get negative results and stress. How to get over a bad day then?&nbsp;</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Below are some tips:</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">1. Acknowledge Your Emotions</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is crucial to allow yourself to feel your emotions. When work stresses you out, you may feel overall down and distressed. Please don&#8217;t ignore your emotions; instead, embrace them. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why? Because keeping feelings bottled up can cause adverse effects on your life. </span><b></b><span style="font-weight: 400;">When you are sad, having a </span><a href="https://mindconnectionsnyc.com/suppressing-emotions-you-may-need-a-good-cry/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">good cry</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> can help to let out your emotions.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To produce more cathartic experiences, you can listen to sad songs, watch emotional movies, or try journaling. Journaling can help you explore how you feel and get to the root of where your emotions are stemming from.&nbsp;</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2. Practice Self-Talk</span></h3>
<p>Usually you are more aware of your emotions, rather than what triggered such emotions. For example, you could feel upset and stay frustrated for a long time. Why? Simply because you may have negative self-talk due to work stress. Such negative self-talk could color your thinking in may ways and consequently affect your emotions and behaviors. How to change negative self-talk to a rational one then?</p>
<ul>
<li>Slow down and visualize a STOP sign in front of you. There are different ways to slow yourself down
<ul>
<li>~ Take deep breaths;</li>
<li>~ Tap your shoulders or laps to calm yourself down;</li>
<li>~ Walk to a different room or outside;</li>
<li>~ Wash your hands for extended time;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Ask yourself, &#8220;What&#8217;s going on?&#8221; &#8220;What when through my mind?&#8221;</li>
<li>Once you figured out those negative thoughts, ask yourself, &#8220;If this happens to my best friend, what would I say to them?&#8221; You probably would not say &#8220;I bet your boss hates you&#8221;, or &#8220;I can never do anything right because I am just stupid&#8221;.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Change to rational self-talk. Rational self-talk does not have to be positive, it can be neutral as long as it is not emotional. For instance, &#8220;I can never do anything right&#8221; may be changed to &#8220;I made a mistake this time. but this helps me to learn my lesson to improve next time.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">3. Practice Self-Care</span></h3>
<p><img decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-5868 size-medium" src="http://drjunhongcao.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/mollie-sivaram-yubCnXAA3H8-unsplash-300x200.jpg" alt="use self-care to cope with burnout" width="300" height="200"></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When you have bad days, it is essential to practice self-care. For example, when you weren&#8217;t treated kindly, maybe by a rude customer or angry boss, you still need to ensure you are treating yourself kindly. In fact, self-care can fall under many categories; you must do what&#8217;s best for you.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Self-care options can include:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Engaging in activities that make you happy, like practicing your <a href="http://11 Hobbies That Benefit Mental Health" data-wplink-url-error="true">hobbies</a> or interests&nbsp;</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Doing things that help you relax and recharge&nbsp;</span>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Getting enough sleep, taking a nap, showering, doing skincare</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Taking care of your body by feeding it with nurturing food or drinking enough water</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Getting your body moving and active&nbsp;</span></li>
<li aria-level="1">
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Taking a social media to cleanse and logging off for the night</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a matter of fact, exercising after work can help you feel more relieved if you work remotely or at an office desk all day. Your body may be stiff, and getting it moving through exercise can help you release some of that tension.&nbsp;</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">4. Vent to Friends and Loved Ones&nbsp;</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In tough times, you can benefit from the support of your loved ones around us. After a tough time at work, don&#8217;t be afraid to voice your concerns to a loved one. Truth be told, holding in your emotions all to yourself can feel more overwhelming. Instead, allow yourself to open up to others and speak about what you are going through.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Specifically, ask your friend if they can help you. Talk about your issues with them and be open to any advice they may offer you. When you can vent to more people you trust, it actually can help you to reduce stress significantly. The rationale behind it is called desensitization. By repeating your story, the intensity of your emotions can decrease and you could feel better.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">5. Increase <a href="https://mindconnectionsnyc.com/a-letter-for-self-love-and-self-compassion/">Self-Compassion</a></span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As mentioned before, making mistakes at work can feel embarrassing or upsetting. You may feel discouraged and unmotivated to keep trying. Don&#8217;t let your mistakes define you; we all make mistakes, and that&#8217;s okay! We are human after all.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Treat yourself with <a href="https://mindconnectionsnyc.com/a-letter-for-self-love-and-self-compassion/">compassion</a> and forgiveness. Remind yourself that mistakes happen, and they aren&#8217;t all bad. Indeed, mistakes help us grow, learn, and become better, wiser people. If we make a mistake at work, it can help us know better for next time.&nbsp;</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">6. Create Boundaries and Work-Life Balance&nbsp;</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It can be intimidating to set boundaries at work, but they are essential. We all need a work-life balance. That is, it is not healthy to work all days of the week and never have time to relax, have fun, and see our loved ones. You</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;can start with little steps each day. This can include:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Logging off from your computer or work platform at a set time each day</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Decreasing your screen time</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Not checking emails after a certain time or on the weekend</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saying &#8220;no&#8221; more often and not people-pleasing as much</span></li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">7. Block out Environmental Stressors</span></h3>
<p>As mentioned before, coworkers and supervisors could very well be the reason why you have a bad day at work. Maybe they are having a bad day themselves and spread the mood to you, or maybe their gossips, interactions, and relationships make the work environment more like a dysfunctional family. Whatever it is, you can choose to block out such environmental stressors. Specifically, you can</p>
<ul>
<li>close your office door if possible;</li>
<li>go outside to get some fresh air;</li>
<li>take a break and leave your desk&nbsp; if you need to;&nbsp;</li>
<li>plug in your headphones, or</li>
<li>get &#8220;busy&#8221; with phone calls, projects, or anything that can help you to manage those stressors.</li>
</ul>
<h3>8. End the Day with a Clean Slate After a Bad Day at Work</h3>
<p>As we all know, it is hard not to bring work stress back home and allow your mood to affect your family life. Since the pandemic started, more people work from home. As convenient as it is, this may easily blur the boundary between work and life. In other words, work may continue to affect at the end of the day because your office and living room or even bedroom are literally in the same place. How to end the day with a clean slate then? Here are a few tips:</p>
<ul>
<li>Write down a list of tasks that you need to accomplish at work tomorrow. Leave it on your desk and wait till tomorrow to handle;</li>
<li>Make a conscious decision to leave work brain at work and not to bring work related issues back home;</li>
<li>Wash your hands before leaving work. Remind yourself to wash away everything frustrating at work down the sink and go home with a clean mind to your family;</li>
<li>Change your clothes after work. Tell yourself this changes to your family life;</li>
<li>Remind yourself that you work to live, not live to work.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">9. Consider Therapy for Work Stress or Burnout</span></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-5871 size-medium" src="http://drjunhongcao.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/marcel-strauss-0yrZiZFN9g4-unsplash-300x225.jpg" alt="use therapy to cope with burnout and work stress" width="300" height="225"></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Therapy can help you with any work struggle/general life struggle you are facing! A therapist can give you the tools to handle work stress better, implement mindfulness techniques, and eliminate negative thoughts from your bad days.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you notice that you feel more stress and it is lingering, you may have <a href="https://drjunhongcao.com/our-specialties/stress-management-therapy-in-new-york">anxiety</a>. If you find yourself experiencing endless stress every day, this is not healthy. Talking to a mental health professional can help <a href="https://drjunhongcao.com/our-specialties/stress-management-therapy-in-new-york">how to cope with work stress</a>. You will find ways to cope and deal with stressors in your life while still taking care of yourself and living a healthier life.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We offer support for all of the services mentioned above. You don&#8217;t have to face your worries alone &#8211; l</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">earn how to cope with work stress now! Call to set up a consultation today!&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Content Creator, </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-gallo-988652204/"><b>Victoria Gallo; </b></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reviewed by </span><a href="https://mindconnectionsnyc.com/about/june-cao/"><b>Dr. June Cao</b></a></p>						</div>
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		<p>The post <a href="https://drjunhongcao.com/how-to-cope-with-a-bad-day-at-work/">How to Cope with a Bad Day at Work</a> appeared first on <a href="https://drjunhongcao.com">Junhong Cao, Ph.D. (Dr. June)</a>.</p>
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			</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Beginner&#8217;s Guide to Self-Love</title>
		<link>https://drjunhongcao.com/the-beginners-guide-to-self-love/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[junecao]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 14 Feb 2021 17:59:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Wellness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[English]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[positive affirmation]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[self-love]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://drjunhongcao.com/?p=2356</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance. ~Oscar Wilde What is self love anyways? Self love is the act of valuing your own happiness and putting your physical, emotional and mental well-being first. In other words, it is acceptance, unconditional support, caring, and compassion for the self.  As cheesy as it may <a class="read-more" href="https://drjunhongcao.com/the-beginners-guide-to-self-love/">Read More</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://drjunhongcao.com/the-beginners-guide-to-self-love/">The Beginner&#8217;s Guide to Self-Love</a> appeared first on <a href="https://drjunhongcao.com">Junhong Cao, Ph.D. (Dr. June)</a>.</p>
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							<table style="font-weight: 400;"><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p><em>To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance. ~Oscar Wilde</em></p><p>What is self love anyways? Self love is the act of valuing your own <a href="https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/happiness">happiness</a> and putting your physical, emotional and mental well-being first. In other words, it is acceptance, unconditional support, caring, and compassion for the self.  As cheesy as it may sound, learning to love yourself is one of the most powerful tools to make your life better.</p><h2>Why is self love important?</h2><p><a href="https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/self-love">Self-love</a> involves acting the same way towards yourself whether everything goes well or when you have a difficult time. Even if you make a mistake, or fail, with self-compassion, you give yourself the same kindness and care you’d give to a good friend. <a style="font-size: 17px;" href="https://simipsychologicalgroup.com/5-critical-reasons-self-love-is-necessary-for-happiness/">What are the benefits of self-love</a><span style="font-size: 17px;">? Below are some examples:</span></p><h3><strong>Self-love motivates you to make healthy decisions in life</strong>.</h3><p>When you hold yourself in high esteem, you&#8217;re more likely to choose things that nurture yourself  and serve you well. That is to say, loving yourself can be cultivated to reduce <a href="http://drjunhongcao.com/our-specialties/stress-manage-therapy-in-new-york">stress</a>,  <a href="http://drjunhongcao.com/our-specialties/anxiety-therapy-in-new-york">anxiety</a>, <a href="http://drjunhongcao.com/our-specialties/depression-therapy-in-new-york">depression</a>, self-hatred, and image problem. Indeed, it helps to lead to happiness, self-confidence and improved immune function.</p><h3><strong>Self-love assists you to liberate yourself from constant comparisons</strong>.</h3><p>How many times have you called yourself a &#8220;loser&#8221;? It could happen when you scroll through Instagram and see a &#8220;friend&#8221; bragging about their fancy dinner, perfect body, and amazing life. Nevertheless, when you learn to truly love yourself, you know you are enough and you do not see the need to compare yourself to others.</p><h3><strong>You learn to be more confident</strong>. </h3><p>With self compassion and love, it is natural to have self acceptance for who you are non-judgmentally. In other words, it makes it easier to embrace your flaws and forgive your mistakes. Such enhanced confidence can in turn develop your security and compassion towards yourself.</p><h3><strong>Self-love builds your resilience to go through hard times</strong>.</h3><p>In reality, challenges and mistakes often lead to self-blaming, self-criticism, and self-punishment. How many times did you call yourself names like &#8220;I&#8217;m so stupid&#8221;, &#8220;I&#8217;m a failure&#8221;, &#8220;No one likes me&#8221;? Generally loving yourself means you learn to talk to yourself the way you would talk to your close friend. In effect, you open your heart to support, encourage, and care with kindness and a gentle tone. </p><h3><strong>Self-love expands your vision to develop and maintain a healthy relationship</strong>.</h3><p>Truth be told, the way you treat yourself will teach others how you want to be treated by them. Without enough self compassion, you may be eager to <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/people-pleaser">please others</a> and unable to say no. Unfortunately this could easily open the door for others to disrespect you or even abuse you in a relationship. Self-love empowers you to set clear boundaries, communicate assertively, and protect yourself when you need to. All of these pave the way for a healthy relationship of mutual respect and balance.</p><h2>Write a love letter to yourself</h2><div style="width: 1080px;" class="wp-video"><!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('video');</script><![endif]-->
<video class="wp-video-shortcode" id="video-2356-1" width="1080" height="1080" loop="1" autoplay="1" preload="auto" controls="controls"><source type="video/mp4" src="http://drjunhongcao.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/love-letter-to-self.mp4?_=1" /><a href="http://drjunhongcao.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/love-letter-to-self.mp4">http://drjunhongcao.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/love-letter-to-self.mp4</a></video></div><p><span style="color: #000000;">Today, begin your self-love journey by writing a love letter to yourself and be reminded that the biggest love you need is your own! </span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">Dear me,</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">I seldom tell you how much I admire you, how beautiful and caring and intelligent and strong you are, that I love you!</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">I want to hug you, praise you, cherish you, and appreciate you for the incredible person that you are, for all the beauty and life you bring to this world!</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">I want to be there for you, I want to take good care of you, I want to fight for you, I want to protect you, and I want to accept you for who you are!</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">Please, do not care what others think, do not be afraid to be different, do not be ashamed of who you are.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">You do not need others’ approval, love, or friendship to be whole.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">You are enough!</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">You are worthy!</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">You are unique!</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">You are beautiful!</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">You are great!</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">You deserve the best!</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">You matter!</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">You are allowed to say NO!</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">I believe in you, and once again,</span><span style="color: #000000;">I love you!</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000;">Love Forever,</span></p><p>Me</p></td></tr></tbody></table>						</div>
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							<p>Our <a href="http://drjunhongcao.com/therapists">psychotherapists</a> are trained to provide expert skills to help you to improve self-love, enhance self-confidence, and maintain a healthy relationship. Call us free for 15 minutes to learn our <a href="http://drjunhongcao.com/services-2">services</a> and start your journey of self-love and self-compassion.</p>						</div>
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		<p>The post <a href="https://drjunhongcao.com/the-beginners-guide-to-self-love/">The Beginner&#8217;s Guide to Self-Love</a> appeared first on <a href="https://drjunhongcao.com">Junhong Cao, Ph.D. (Dr. June)</a>.</p>
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