Okay, I’ll admit, it’s actually tougher than we think—loving and trusting oneself enough to become one’s own best friend.
But has anything good ever come from not being one? When we don’t have that relationship with ourselves, we start seeking validation from the outside world, which can be really terrifying. The very thought shakes me to the core.
However, once you start loving your own company, there’s no going back.
First, What Is It Like To Be Your Own Best Friend?
LIBERATING.
If one word could sum up the feeling, it’s this. But it takes many deliberate actions to get there.
You are full of compassion.
Regardless of the mistakes you make, you treat yourself with kindness. We can be especially tough on ourselves when we do wrong, but becoming your own best friend means seeing yourself as a human—imperfect, but worthy of love.
You are comfortable being who you are.
You might be full of flaws, but you can’t help loving yourself anyway. Isn’t that a sexy feeling? Looking in the mirror and liking who you are—feeling confident and full of admiration for yourself. You believe in yourself.
You leave room for growth.
You may admire yourself, but you understand the importance of growth. Life becomes a constant journey of learning, with growth taking the front seat. You know there’s always room for improvement. You’re comfortable as you are but also strive to be better. You become your own competition.
Second, Why Should You Be Your Own Best Friend?
Because the world isn’t always kind.
So you have to be kind to yourself. This is a hard truth of life. Even loved ones will sometimes fail to understand you. But you cannot beat yourself up over it. You can’t let other people’s judgements break your spirit, which is why you must be the kindest to yourself.
To do what really matters to you.
This could be your goals, your bucket list, becoming who you truly want to be, or building the life you dream of. You have to be your greatest supporter and encourage yourself to live a life that truly adds value.
The world becomes a better place.
Your life feels better. Your mood feels better. That’s the power of being your own good friend. When you’re happy, you can keep others around you happy too. The world around you starts to feel lighter—even if that’s not the reality—and facing hardships becomes easier.
Third, How Do You Become Your Own Best Friend?
It takes a lot of dedication.
Invest in yourself.
This is also the biggest piece of advice I would give my younger self, if I could go back in time. Investing in yourself is the best investment you can ever make. Deal with your insecurities. Invest in your goals. Do the things that bring you joy. Spend on yourself—whether it’s time, effort, or money—on everything that makes you a better person.
Enjoy Your Own Company.
There’s no going back once you enjoy your solitude. You’ll keep finding reasons to engage in one. Imagine, having a blast doing the things you love. Could anyone find a better solace than this?
Set Healthy Boundaries.
Loving the ones you love is important, so is setting boundaries. People around you need to know where they are not supposed to cross your lines. Setting boundaries keeps relationships healthy and also your peace of mind. Become great at the art of saying ‘No’- but not to everything. That, you’ll have to leave it to your own judgement when saying a ‘Yes’ is befitting.
Lastly, you don’t have to limit yourself to these rule. Feel free to add more of yours as you like. But if you are starting out on becoming your best buddy, then these could be your guide.
And remember, it isn’t a one day work. Loving yourself is a life-long journey and practice. So, take your time but get started already. It’ll teach you one of the best ways to live life.
