All of us dream to have a perfect life, free from worries and anxiety. But what we often fail to understand is that we hold the keys to our destiny–we have the power to achieve what we want, and that is where self-care can play a major role. Self-care is all about taking care of yourself, and your mental and physical health.

It’s a thoughtful, mindful process of improving and protecting yourself, often from the negative emotions within us. It is about prioritizing ourselves in order to lead a happy, balanced life. Here are a few quotes about self-love and self-care, to give you some extra motivation:

Sonja Langford/Unsplash. Valuing your time is important if you love yourself.

M Scott Peck on valuing our time:

Time is a person’s most cherished, most precious asset. Valuing our time means not spending it on things that don’t help us grow or improve, or spending your hours with people that take more from us emotionally and physically than what they give in return. Always be vigilant of your time, and give it to things and people that truly make you happy.

Buddha on our life purpose :

According to Buddha, it is our foremost duty to discover and carve a world of our own, and once we have discovered it, give ourselves fully to it. Once you’ve settled on an aim in life, it’s important that you completely dedicate yourself to your goals. The world that you create here is your legacy, so leave behind a legacy of joy, kindness, and empathy for the people to remember you by.

National Cancer Institute/Unsplash. Care for yourself first if you wish to care for others.

Princess Diana on caring for ourselves :

When we care for those around us, we in turn care for ourselves too. Caring for others, taking care of our loved ones and being kind towards anyone and everyone grows us in ways that would not be possible otherwise. Empathy might be one of the most important traits but don’t forget to establish and stick to your boundaries. Remember, do not lose yourself in the process of helping others.

Guillaume de Germain/Unsplash. Having quiet retreats is one way to grow from within.

Hermann Hesse on the importance of silence :

There is a certain stillness and calmness we all hold within ourselves, and it is important for our peace of mind to resort to that quietness within when there’s a storm brewing outside. Meditation, quiet contemplation, and self-reflection are all important for our mental peace and calm.