The Love We Give

Happy Valentine’s week! While this holiday is often about romance, today we’re focusing on a different kind of love—the one we tend to neglect the most: self-love. It’s easy to put others first, but how often do we show up for ourselves with the same care, consistency, and dedication? In this episode, I’m breaking down self-love into two key areas: Our Bodies & Our Worth.

We’re told that love is about connection—about giving, receiving, and showing up for others. But what happens when the one person we forget to love is ourselves?

For years, I believed self-love was about looking in the mirror and feeling beautiful, about meeting an impossible standard set by society. But the truth? Self-love isn’t about appearance. It’s about value. And for a long time, I didn’t see my own.

I spent a lot of my time pouring into others, hoping that if I gave enough, someone would finally pour back into me. But when they didn’t, I blamed them—never realizing that the real person who had abandoned me… was me.

This episode is about reclaiming that love. The love that matters most.

Self-Love & Our Bodies: It’s Not About the Mirror

We’re bombarded with messages about how we should look, how we should improve, and how we should strive for better.

But what does better even mean?

I thought my frustration with my body was about how I looked. But I realized it had nothing to do with my body—it had everything to do with my behavior.

When I don’t take care of myself—when I skip meals, ignore my body’s needs, or run myself into exhaustion—I start to resent my body. I blame it instead of recognizing that I am the one not treating it well.

Our bodies are here to carry us, to move us through life. They are not the enemy.

So I asked myself:

•  What makes me feel like I’ve cared for myself?
• What makes me feel good in my body?

For me, it’s hydration, movement, and nourishment. For you, it might be different. But the key is this: self-love starts with honoring what your body needs, not punishing it for what it is.

Self-Love & Worth: Showing Up For Yourself

“I am so loyal, so dedicated… to everyone except myself.”

That was my reality for years. I gave and gave, hoping that one day, I’d receive what I needed in return. But instead, I was left feeling drained, unseen, and undervalued.

And then it hit me:
I wasn’t drained because others weren’t giving to me.
I was drained because I wasn’t giving to myself.

I had spent so long waiting for validation, for love, for someone else to show me I was worthy—when all along, I needed to be the one showing up for myself.

Self-worth isn’t found in how others treat us—it’s found in how we treat ourselves.

So ask yourself:
🌟 Do you value yourself?
🌟 Where do you find your worth?

If you don’t take care of yourself, is it because, deep down, you don’t believe you’re worth the time?

Because here’s the truth: we take care of what we value.

If you wouldn’t neglect someone you love, why are you neglecting yourself?

Practical Steps: Shifting to Self-Love

• Recognize the cycle. Are you constantly giving to others and ignoring your own needs?
• Check your self-talk. Would you speak to a loved one the way you speak to yourself?
• Prioritize yourself. Make space for self-care without guilt.
• Set boundaries. Loving yourself means protecting your time, energy, and peace.

Reflection Exercise:

Take a moment to yourself before this week ends, and stand in front of a mirror, look yourself in the eye, and say: 

I am valuable.

I am worthy. 

I deserve love.

I love you.

Say it until you believe it. Say it until it feels real. 

Because it is.”

Key Takeaways:

✨ Self-love isn’t about looking perfect—it’s about valuing yourself.
✨ You take care of what you value. If you’re neglecting yourself, ask why.
✨ Your worth isn’t defined by others—it’s defined by you.
✨ The most important love story you will ever have is the one with yourself.

Final Thoughts:

If you’ve ever felt invisible, if you’ve ever wondered why you’re always running on empty, if you’ve ever questioned whether you truly matter—know this:

You do.

But you have to be the one to believe it first.

The most important love story isn’t about romance. It’s about you.