On this day of giving thanks, take time to be thankful for yourself. All that you are, all that you do and all that you have to offer in this life.

Whether you see it as a trend, a practice or a spiritual invitation- the concept of loving yourself is not foreign to most. In fact, this ever evolving concept has been a central point of mindfulness and mental health for recent years. Your relationship with yourself is the longest lasting relationship you’ll have and the most consistent.

Here are a few ways to explore the concept of self love.

It’s not about beauty or anything external- it’s about nourishing and feeling good. Explore things that make your body feel good. This creates pleasurable neuromuscular pathways that can combat chronic pain, anxiety and more. Whether it be through stretching, meditation, dancing, snuggling- do things that feel good in your body.

Loving yourself is maintaining healthy thought hygiene- your subconscious cannot think in negatives. For example, if you think don’t be anxious- you’ll think about anxiety. Try to reframe your thoughts when feeling doubt to empowerment like “brave”, “love”, “kind”.

Finally, loving yourself is facilitated by esteeming your responsibilities as valuable- so pay your rent on time, do things now so you don’t have to pay for it later, be mindful of how your actions today effect your tomorrow. These are all divine acts of self love.

By Melissa Aguirre