We cease loving ourselves if no one loves us. That's what my therapist told me after I broke up with my ex. She said I had low self-esteem and needed to work on loving myself more. But how can I love myself when no one else does? How can I look in the mirror and say "You are awesome" when everyone else says "You are awful"?

I decided to do some research on this topic and find out if there is any truth to this statement. Is it really true that we stop loving ourselves if we don't receive love from others? And if so, what can we do to prevent this from happening?

According to some experts, the answer is yes and no. Yes, we do need love from others to feel good about ourselves. Love is a basic human need that helps us feel secure, valued and connected. When we receive love from others, we feel more confident, happy and optimistic. We also tend to be more generous, compassionate and forgiving.

But no, we don't stop loving ourselves if we don't receive love from others. Love is not something that we can lose or run out of. Love is something that we have within ourselves, regardless of what others think or do. We can love ourselves even when we are alone, rejected or hurt. We can love ourselves even when we make mistakes, fail or disappoint others.

The key is to cultivate a healthy sense of self-love that is not dependent on external validation. Self-love is the ability to accept and appreciate ourselves for who we are, with all our strengths and weaknesses. Self-love is the ability to treat ourselves with kindness and respect, without judgment or criticism. Self-love is the ability to nurture and care for ourselves, without neglecting or harming ourselves.

How can we develop more self-love? Here are some tips that I found helpful:

• Practice gratitude. Every day, write down three things that you are grateful for about yourself. It could be your personality, your skills, your achievements, your body, your health or anything else that you appreciate about yourself.

• Practice affirmations. Every day, say positive statements to yourself that reinforce your self-worth and self-esteem. For example: "I am enough", "I am worthy of love", "I am capable of anything", "I am beautiful inside and out".

• Practice self-care. Every day, do something that makes you feel good and happy. It could be a hobby, a sport, a meditation, a massage, a nap or anything else that you enjoy and relaxes you.

• Practice self-compassion. Whenever you feel sad, angry, guilty or ashamed, don't beat yourself up or blame yourself. Instead, talk to yourself as you would talk to a friend who is going through the same situation. Be supportive, understanding and forgiving.

• Practice self-improvement. Whenever you want to change something about yourself or your life, don't criticize yourself or compare yourself to others. Instead, set realistic goals and take small steps towards achieving them. Celebrate your progress and learn from your setbacks.

By following these tips, I hope you will be able to love yourself more and more every day. Remember: You cease loving yourself if no one loves you only if you let them. You have the power to love yourself no matter what.