Are you your own worst bully?

Pay attention to the negative chatter in your head. Would you talk to a friend or your child that way? No?!

You deserve the same respect.

Yes. You. Do.

Next time you feel beat up notice who is throwing the punches.

If it’s you, it’s time to start building some self-love into your days.

1. Pat yourself on the back. For even the things you think are too small to celebrate. Celebrate them anyway.

Made that doctors appointment you’ve been putting off? Woohoo…celebrate.

Remembered to take the clothes from the washer and put them in the dryer. Celebrate!

Don’t get caught up in how to celebrate. Physically, reach around and pat yourself on the back. It’s that simple.

2. Go get yourself a hug. Hugs are so much like meditation and laughter. They teach us to let go and be present in the moment. They encourage us to flow with the energy of life.

Hugs get you out of your circular thinking patterns and connect you with your heart and your feelings and your breath.

3. Eat Dark Chocolate. Really. It’s good for your brain. And satisfies the need to feel a little naughty.

Dark chocolate increases blood flow to the brain as well as to the heart, so it can help improve cognitive function. Dark chocolate also helps reduce your risk of stroke.

Dark chocolate also contains several chemical compounds that have a positive effect on your mood and cognitive health.

Chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), the same chemical your brain creates when you feel like you’re falling in love. PEA encourages your brain to release endorphins, so eating dark chocolate will make you feel happier.

4. Pick your relaxation vice and do it! What is it for you?

Taking a hot bubble bath?

Watching your favorite TV shows on Netflix? (that would be Friends for me)

Reading a book or a magazine?

Taking a walk with a friend?

Stay in the moment of whatever you’re doing. Notice you’re multi-tasking? Stop.

Set yourself to truly enjoy this time. Turn off your phone.

Block interruptions before they happen and tell others you’re taking some much needed and deserved “me time”.

5. Find a positive mantra to say to yourself when you notice your inner bully creeping up on you. Sometimes it can be hard to remember just how great you are.

Stop the negative chatter. Say some of these bully-crushing mantras to yourself.

Print them out and hang them on the refrigerator or on your cubicle wall. Tape them to the wall next to your mirror so you can see them while you get ready in the morning.

Say it to yourself as often as it takes for you to start believing it.

♥ “I love myself just the way that I am.”
♥ “I deserve love.”
♥ “I deserve to be treated well.”
♥ “There are no reasons NOT to think I’m awesome!”
♥ “I’m a good person.”
♥ “Life is great!”
♥ “I’ll always feel and look better when I put on a smile.”
♥ “I enjoy being me.”
♥ “I do a good job being me.”
♥ “I will never talk down about myself; to myself or to other people.”

What other mantras work for you? Tell us in the comments below.