Each individual gives and receives love in different ways and, therefore, defines love differently. To me, loving myself means prioritizing myself, forgiving myself, and being content with who I am. Loving others is a complex feeling of affection and care for a person. I show my love directly: through physical closeness, offering my support, and reminding people that I love them. But many people don’t show their love in these same ways. In order to love someone healthily, it is important to understand that we each do so in our own unique ways. Nevertheless, being able to successfully love both yourself and others requires a balance between being both selfish and selfless.

We have probably all heard the expression, “you must love yourself before you can love others.” This claim diverges from the significance of our individuality and distinct ways of loving. However, there is some truth in it. It is certainly easier to love others when you love yourself because you are more likely to believe that people love you. When I don’t love myself, I tend to lose trust in the people who claim to love me, which can make it difficult to love those people.

With a sense of confidence that you are loved comes less need for others’ approval. The desperate desire for … can alter one’s judgment of who they love and who they should love. … can happen in different ways. If someone is insecure and lonely, they may think that they love someone just because they are receiving the type of attention they crave. Loving oneself can decrease the potential for this type of false love.