Guest Author - Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

Nurturing, accepting, and loving yourself is so important in our world – which can be hard, cold, and mean. Here's 72 ways to give yourself a little love (forget the discipline of diets and denial!) and make your life better.

1. Stop telling yourself you're fat, ugly, stupid, or worthless.
2. Honor your feelings.
3. Enjoy a bubble bath.
4. Read your favorite novel.
5. Play games with kids.
6. Don't leave things to the last minute.
7. Learn how to control your mood and attitude.
8. Spend quiet time in a cathedral, church, synagogue, mosque, or mountaintop.
9. Get a pedicure.
10. Be real.
11. Listen to the thoughts, opinions, and feelings of others.
12. Give and accept hugs freely.
13. Express your thoughts and opinions.
14. Stand up for yourself.
15. Free write your experiences and emotions.
16. Organize your important documents.
17. Have fun.
18. Deal with your fears.
19. Avoid mindless eating in front of the television.
20. Keep your promises.
21. Take vacations.
22. Do things that make you feel good.
23. Avoid things that make you feel bad.
24. Lighten up.
25. Be authentic.
26. Make eye contact with yourself in the mirror.
27. Worry later; be free now.
28. Laugh at yourself.
29. Don't litter.
30. See the good in others.
31. Caress a dog or cat; play with a puppy or kitten.
32. Volunteer your time.
33. Don't waste time on regret, guilt, or hatred.
34. Indulge in the treats you enjoy, but:
35. Remember how you feel when you eat too much.
36. Stretch.
37. Find the humor in every situation.
38. Cry.
39. Learn something new.
40. Read a children's picture book – with or without a child.
41. Make eye contact with others.
42. Don't label other people.
43. Surprise someone.
44. Try new foods.
45. Say what you're thinking – when it's not mean or hurtful.
46. Eat popcorn for dinner.
47. Figure out what makes you feel loved – and do it.
48. Dance.
49. Practice gratitude for everything, even traffic jams.
50. Relax.
51. Be the first to say hello.
52. If you're not enjoying a situation, say so.
53. Don't compare yourself to other people.
54. Don't compare your loved ones to other people.
55. Breathe deeply.
56. Make others feel needed and important.
57. Be comfortable with who you are – warts and all.
58. Read.
59. Don't complain.
60. Follow your doctor's instructions.
61. Explore a different area of your city.
62. Make friends of all ages and genders.
63. Be a positive influence in your family.
64. Be open to new experiences.
65. Care less about clothes and other possessions.
66. Don't judge.
67. Sing.
68. Let yourself have a bad day.
69. Go to the zoo or aquarium.
70. Focus on the bright side of life.
71. Eat balanced, delicious meals.
72. Don’t waste your money. Save it for Something Big.