How to Love Without Losing Yourself
Loving another person is one of the most rewarding, terrifying, wonderful, and difficult things you’ll ever do. When you care about someone so much, it can feel like you are giving away pieces of yourself. But loving someone isn’t about losing yourself. But how do we balance letting go and holding on? Let’s take a look at some tips on how to love without losing yourself…
Communicate
Communication is key to any and all relationships, romantic or otherwise, but it’s easy to forget that when we’re in love. Talking about your feelings and desires will help you feel connected to one another, and it’s something that needs to be done even when everything is going smoothly in your relationship. It’s also important to be honest with your partner if something is bothering you. If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or depressed, your partner can help support you, but only if you let them in.
What you need to be happy
There are some things that only you can provide for yourself. What does that mean? It means that you can’t rely on someone else to make you happy. No one can do that for you. You have to create your own happiness. Do the things that bring you joy because you care about them, not because you think they will impress your partner. Let them know what you need to be happy, and they will hopefully support you through that. But no one can do that for you. You have to help yourself.
Take time for yourself
This one sounds similar to “what you need to be happy,” but there is a difference. Taking time for yourself is about self-care. It’s about taking care of your mental, emotional, and physical health. Take time for yourself every day, even if it’s just a few minutes. Meditate, listen to music, or do whatever makes you feel calm and relaxed. Make sure that you are setting aside time each week to do something you love and that brings you joy. Making sure you are taking care of yourself is just as important as making sure your partner is taking care of themselves. Relationships are a two-way street and need to be balanced. You can’t expect your partner to take care of you and to make you happy if you aren’t doing the same for them.
Don’t lose sight of who you are and what you want
It’s easy to say that you won’t lose sight of who you are and what you want, but it can be difficult in practice. Relationships can put a strain on your identity, especially if you are with someone who doesn’t respect your individuality or tries to change who you are. Make sure you are setting and communicating clear boundaries. You are allowed to have your own thoughts and feelings, and you are allowed to have your own identity. If you feel like your partner is trying to change you or make you something you aren’t, you need to speak up. Let your partner know that you are still you, and that you want to be treated as such. Let them know when you feel like they are trying to change you, and ask them to respect your wishes when you set boundaries.
Loving someone is one of the most beautiful and special things you can do. It’s easy to lose sight of yourself and get so wrapped up in caring for another person that you forget to take care of yourself. The most important thing you can do is take time for yourself and make sure you are taking care of your mental, emotional, and physical health. Doing so will help you stay grounded and make sure you are taking care of yourself when you are in a relationship and loving someone.
The author of this article is a therapist from the Sensera app. Sensera is a daily 10-minute self-therapy app. It’ll help you to cope with various mental problems (anxiety, self-esteem, relationship issues). Feel better with CBT audio sessions and exercises. Download now to become happier!
