Malaika Arora reflects on self-love: ‘I will say that every day of my life…’

For all those questioning themselves every day of their lives, Malaika Arora has an advice — love yourself.

“I love myself. I will say that every day of my life, because I feel if I don’t say that to myself I am never going to be able to be better. I am never going to be able to do things the way I want to or enjoy life. I need to love myself first before I do anything else,” Arora told Pinkvilla.

So, we reached out to an expert to understand why self-love is important.

The perception of what is expected of oneself can lead to the precipitation of guilt in situations where one is unable to fulfill expectations. “These expectations and perceptions of what needs to be done come from within oneself, from experiences with others, learning through one’s life, from society and the culture within which one resides. Balancing roles can often be difficult and disrupt the emotional functioning of a person. For a woman, this can emerge on account of multiple responsibilities that stem from taking care of home, children, family, work, and self,” said Dr Chandni Tugnait, MD (A.M), psychotherapist, founder and director, Gateway of Healing.

Self-love manifests in various ways (Photo: Pexels)

This is where self-love comes into play. “Maintaining a balance requires finding out ways to engage in me-time, and to consciously disconnect,” shared Dr Tugnait.

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The goal is to have a quiet time reserved only for yourself. “And you need to be serious about using this time-period for your growth. Always remember that growth is the core of self-love to unlock your true potential,” shared the expert.

Healthy relationships with oneself can be established if you give yourself some time and are willing to build it as a habit. A strong emotional foundation where you feel safe to learn and adapt can help you evolve as a better human being which allows you to stand up better for others too.