Self Love: Nurturing Love Within

In a world where questions about romantic love often take center stage, there's one crucial inquiry that often goes overlooked: "Do I love myself?" Self-love, though a well-known concept, remains vastly underrated. How often do we look in the mirror and say, "I love you, you're looking gorgeous today"? The answer is likely infrequent, and it's time we change that.

The pervasive algorithms of today's world contribute to insecurities about ourselves and relationships, yet they rarely prompt us to foster a healthy relationship with ourselves first and foremost. How can you even expect anyone else to love the parts of you that you have never loved yourself? Trust me when you start loving all the parts of yourself that 'you' think are ugly you will see everybody accepting it too.

 Do you realize it's not about what others think of you but how you think others think of you? 

Self-love only shifts this perspective of yours and once your own perspective of seeing yourself changes others change for you too. I've been on a journey of self-love; let me tell you, it has been transformative.

The key lies in prioritizing our own opinions before seeking approval from others. Instead of wondering, 'Will people like it? Will they accept it?' ask yourself, "Do I like it? Is it what I really want?" When you start loving and accepting yourself, the noise of others' opinions fades away, and insecurities naturally diminish.

College life exposed me to a sea of insecurities among my peers. Yet, when asked about mine, I found none to mention. Not because I'm perfect, but because I embrace my imperfections as opportunities for growth. I don't dwell on my weaknesses; I find ways to work on them. I'm not insecure because I'm proud of who I am and love myself for all my perfect imperfections.

Insecurities often stem from external influences, but confidence in yourself and self-love is the antidote. People may try to make fun of you, but confidently showing them that you love yourself, flaws and all, is the best response. Your confidence becomes a shield against judgment.

Look within, and you'll discover countless reasons to love yourself. Embrace your perfect imperfections and then see how little you care about others' judgments. Your opinions matter the most because you've been with yourself through every highs and lows, you are the only one who was with you through all your struggles and those sleepless nights and you'll be there till the very end. How can you not love this human who is always there with you at every stage of life?

My journey of self-love restarted after a breakup. During the relationship, I realized I wasn't prioritizing myself enough. I was too dedicated to the other person and often did not care about myself and my needs. Post-breakup, I learned the importance of self-love. Loving yourself makes you less concerned about whether your partner loves you enough. You become a source of your own love and validation. Moreover, getting love from others becomes an addition, not a necessity.

Loving yourself isn't just about embracing your best days when you were able to have all but also navigating through the toughest ones, acknowledging your flaws, and viewing them as stepping stones for growth instead of sources of sorrow.

So, celebrate yourself. Go on solo dates, even during Valentine's week if you don't have a partner. Your well-being is paramount. Give yourself the five forms of love languages. Understand that you're not missing a piece; you're whole. Love yourself the most, and watch how it transforms your life. You are your greatest asset, and your journey of self-love is the key to personal fulfillment.