“I Deeply Love And Accept Myself”
Self-love isn’t something that comes naturally to a lot of us. It’s a practice, not a switch you can just flip. When I say self-love, I’m talking about the kind of unconditional love we so easily give to our friends, kids, or even our partners. When someone we love makes a mistake, we offer them compassion, encouragement, and a gentle reminder that they’re still amazing. But when it comes to ourselves? One little slip-up, not looking a certain way, missing a goal, or just feeling like we haven’t done enough, and suddenly we’re our harshest critic. It’s brutal.
And because loving and encouraging ourselves is so hard, we start chasing validation from other people. We want that “You’re doing great!” so badly that sometimes we lose sight of what we really value or want in life. We say “yes” to things that don’t align with our true desires or goals because the external praise feels good in the moment.
For example, maybe you take on extra projects at work even though you’re already stretched too thin, or you say yes to plans you don’t have energy for because you don’t want to disappoint anyone. We get so caught up in proving ourselves that we forget who we’re trying to prove it to.
As a mom, wife, professional, and entrepreneur, I’m no stranger to this cycle. I constantly feel like I haven’t done enough, or that what I’ve done wasn’t good enough. So, I pile on more responsibilities to try to compensate, but guess what? Those extra things usually aren’t even the ones I really care about improving. Instead of solving the problem, I’m just adding to my plate and the feeling of not being enough grows even deeper. I know this comes from years of conditioning, from life experiences that have shaped me into who I am today. And while I’m working to unravel that, I still have to live in the present, facing those days when I feel unworthy, overwhelmed, and stuck.
An Act of Self-Love: Buy YOURSELF Flowers
One small act of self-love that’s helped me is buying myself flowers. Every week, I stop by the store and pick up a simple bouquet, nothing fancy. As I arrange the flowers in a vase, I take a moment to think about the things I did well that week. I let myself feel proud, I give myself some credit, and I say kind things to myself. These flowers are my little “job well done.”
As the week goes on and the flowers start to wilt, they remind me of how much effort I’ve poured into the week. And just like those flowers, I realize I’m wilting too. That’s my signal to take the weekend to rest, recharge, and care for myself. On Sunday, I buy new flowers, reset my mindset, and start the week with fresh energy and positive self-talk. It’s a small thing, but it keeps me grounded and reminds me to celebrate myself.
Self-Love Mantra:
I deeply love and accept myself
Of course, those self-critical thoughts still creep in. I’ll catch myself thinking, I hate my nose or I gained 10 pounds or Why did I mess that up? But instead of spiraling, I combat those thoughts with a mantra: “I deeply love and accept myself”.
It’s simple but powerful. No matter what the negative thought is, I add:
•I hate my nose, yet I deeply love and accept myself.
•I gained 10 pounds, yet I deeply love and accept myself.
•I made a mistake, yet I deeply love and accept myself.
Over time, this practice starts to quiet that inner critic. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s a step toward breaking the cycle of self-doubt and allowing myself to grow and feel joy.
Here’s the thing: Loving yourself doesn’t mean you think you’re perfect. It means you’re choosing to accept yourself, flaws and all, and be kind to yourself anyway. It’s not selfish; it’s necessary. When we embrace self-love, we create space for growth, happiness, and a life that feels true to who we really are.
So here’s to giving ourselves the same compassion, kindness, and encouragement we so freely give to others. Here’s to making space for self-love, not just when we’re thriving, but especially when we’re struggling. Because the relationship we have with ourselves is the foundation for everything else. And we deserve to build that foundation with love. 💛
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