The Season of Love: How Practicing Self-Love Changes Everything
Love is everywhere this time of year, flower shop lines are long, social media is filled with grand gestures, and thereâs that subtle pressure to have a âspecial someone.â
Hereâs what I want you to know: the most important love story of your life is the one you have with yourself.Â
If that idea makes you roll your eyes a little, I get it. Self-love is one of those things that sounds great in theory, but actually practicing it? Thatâs a whole different story. Maybe youâve spent years putting other people first. Maybe youâve been in relationships that made you feel like you werenât enough. Or maybe youâre just not sure where to start.
When you start showing up for yourself, everything changes.
Why Self-Love Matters More
Than Ever?
1. It Teaches People How to Treat You
2. It Helps You Heal from Toxic Patterns
Have you ever noticed that the more you let things slide, the more people take advantage of it? Whether itâs a friend who constantly cancels plans last minute or a partner who never considers your needs, itâs easy to think, Maybe I just need to be more patient. But hereâs the reality: when you donât value your own time, energy, or emotions, others wonât either.
For example, letâs say you always say âyesâ to last-minute requests from coworkers, even when youâre exhausted. Over time, they start expecting it. But when you start setting boundaries, like saying, âIâd love to help, but I donât have the bandwidth todayâ you show them that your time is valuable, too. And thatâs a form of self-love: choosing to honor yourself instead of constantly overextending.
If youâve been in unhealthy relationships, whether with a romantic partner, a family member, or even a friend, self-love is what helps you break the cycle.
Maybe you grew up believing that love meant enduring things, not walking away when you were disrespected. Maybe you were told that asking for what you need makes you âdifficult.â Or maybe you got so used to giving that you never learned how to receive.
Self-love shifts that narrative. It helps you recognize when something isnât love, itâs just a pattern youâre used to. It gives you the courage to walk away from situations that drain you, even when itâs hard. And most importantly, it teaches you that you donât have to earn love by sacrificing yourself.
3. It Gives You Confidence to Make Better Choices
Loving yourself isnât about thinking youâre perfect, itâs about believing that you deserve better.
Think about a time when you stayed in a situation that made you unhappy, a job that drained you, a relationship that made you feel small, a friendship that felt one-sided. Chances are, part of the reason you stayed was that little voice in your head saying, Maybe this is the best I can get.
But when you practice self-love, that voice starts to change. You begin to recognize your worth, which makes it easier to walk away from things that donât align with your happiness. You start making choices that serve you, rather than settling for whatâs familiar.
For example, instead of saying âyesâ to another date with someone who doesnât respect your time, you choose to spend the evening doing something that actually brings you joy. Instead of accepting an apology without changed behavior, you hold people accountable for how they treat you. And instead of shrinking yourself to make others comfortable, you take up space, unapologetically.
Okay, But How Do You Actually Start?
Self-love isnât just about bubble baths and affirmations (although those are great). Itâs about learning to be there for yourself, even on the hard days. Itâs about setting boundaries, speaking kindly to yourself, and making choices that align with the life you truly want.
Not sure where to start? Iâve got you. Watch out for the next newsletter, where Iâll be sharing practical, realistic ways to start prioritizing yourself, without guilt.
đ Not on the list yet? Join us now for weekly tips so you donât miss it! Because you deserve the same kind of love you so easily give to everyone else. đ
And if youâre looking for a supportive space to grow, heal, and connect with others who get it, join the Beyond You Collective, our private membership community where we have real conversations about healing, self-worth, and stepping into the life you deserve. You donât have to figure this out alone. Weâre in this together. đ«Â