What is Self-Compassion and How to Love Yourself
Self-love and self-nurturing baffle most people, especially if we received inadequate parenting. We learn about love from our parents, for better or worse. The word “nurture” comes from the Latin nutritus, meaning to suckle and nourish. It also means to protect and foster growth. For young children, this usually falls to the mother, however, the father’s role is equally important. Both parents need to nurture children.
A child should not only feel loved, but also know he or she is understood and valued as a separate, unique individual by both parents who each want a relationship with them. Healthy parenting helps grown children become great mothers and fathers and enables them to accept and love themselves.
Emotional needs
In addition to physical nourishment, including gentle touch, care, and food, emotional nurturing consists of meeting a child’s emotional needs. These include:
- Love
- Play
- Respect
- Encouragement
- Understanding
- Acceptance
- Empathy
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Guidance
