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Are we confusing self-love with narcissism when it comes to self-care?
Self-love and narcissism are distinct concepts that can sometimes be misunderstood or conflated.
Here, we’ll clarify the differences between the two, along with a few tips for self-care that are truly about self-improvement and better health.
What is Self-Love?
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Self-love refers to a healthy regard for one’s own well-being and happiness. It involves practicing self-care, self-compassion, and self-acceptance.
Self-love is essential for mental and emotional well-being. It means recognizing your worth, taking care of your physical and mental health, setting boundaries, and engaging in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.
Self-love is about nurturing a positive relationship with yourself and treating yourself with kindness and respect.
What is Narcissism?
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On the other hand, narcissism is a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others.
Narcissistic individuals often have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for excessive attention and admiration. They may exploit others to achieve personal gain and have difficulty forming genuine, meaningful relationships.
The Difference Between Self-Love and Narcissism
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Confusion arises when people misinterpret self-love as narcissism. This misunderstanding might stem from the fact that both concepts involve a focus on the self. However, the intentions, behaviors, and outcomes associated with self-love and narcissism are vastly different:
Intentions:
Self-love is rooted in self-care, self-improvement, and overall well-being.
Narcissism is driven by a need for validation, admiration, and superiority over others.
Behaviors:
Self-love promotes empathy, kindness, and positive relationships with others.
Narcissism often leads to manipulative or exploitative behaviors, as individuals with narcissistic tendencies may prioritize their own needs and desires above all else.
Outcomes:
Self-love enhances mental and emotional health, leading to better relationships and a greater sense of fulfillment.
Narcissism, when it reaches the level of a personality disorder, can lead to interpersonal difficulties, shallow relationships, and emotional distress for both the individual and those around them.
Next, let’s look at a few self-care tips for improving your physical and mental health, stamina, and overall well-being.
Make It a Goal to Exercise Weekly
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The CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, but heart-pumping workouts are your best bet!
Break it down to 40 minutes 4 days a week, 30 minutes 5 days a week, or however you’d like! Choose what works best for your lifestyle. Heart pumping means breathing through your mouth, feeling like you are working comfortably hard.
Things like power walking, biking, dancing. Moving your body and getting your heart rate up.
Aim for Two Strength Training Sessions Per Week
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Some muscle-building activities to your workouts. Dumbbells, resistance band exercises, muscle sculpt classes, or using your body weight with push-ups, planks, and squats all work. Strength is the secret to mobility and better metabolism as we age.
Avoid Processed Foods and “Eat the Rainbow”
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Watch out because processed foods have multiple negative side effects. Generally speaking, the fewer the ingredients, the better the food!
Taking a quick look at food labels can tell you a lot, but ideally, most of the food you buy doesn’t need a label. If you are buying packaged foods that contain artificial colors, flavors, chemicals, and additives you can’t pronounce, avoid them.
Eat foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. Aim for whole, fresh foods in a rainbow of colors. Get a good mix of healthy carbs, fats, and proteins, and you’ll be energized.
Keep Yourself Hydrated
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Most adults need about two quarts of fluid per day to replace normal water loss or approximately eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Water does wonders for so many of your bodily processes. Try my favorite hacks to drink more water.
Get Enough Sleep
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How much and the quality of sleep you get can directly affect your appetite. You can also get my sleep tips here.
In summary, it is crucial to differentiate between self-love and narcissism. Practicing self-care and self-love is essential for overall well-being, while narcissism involves unhealthy patterns of behavior and interpersonal relationships. It’s important to promote self-love while being aware of the signs of narcissistic behavior to maintain healthy relationships with oneself and others.
Strength Training for Women Over 50: 11 Best Moves
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There are many factors involved in maintaining good physical and mental health as you age, but one of the most important things to consider as you grow older is weight training.
These strength training exercises are proven to get results for women over 50!
Strength Training for Women Over 50: 11 Best Moves
15 Best Mobility Exercises for Seniors to Stay Active
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One of the best things you can do to stay healthy and active with age is to make mobility exercises a regular part of your routine. Did you know that limited mobility is actually the thing that makes you look the oldest?
A quick mobility routine is often all it takes to start feeling better!
To see the benefits firsthand, try the 15 best mobility exercises to keep you in action and impact your overall health for years to come.
15 Best Mobility Exercises for Seniors to Stay Active
5 Effective Ways To Increase Your Metabolism After 50
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Do you want to increase your metabolism after 50 and stay healthy in your golden years? It’s possible!
After age 50, our metabolism can slow down due to lifestyle habits. However, with the right knowledge and effort, it is possible to boost metabolism even at this stage of life.
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