The Greatest Love of All?

I love lemon meringue pie. I love my morning coffee. I love my clients, my students, my grads, my friends, my family, and even my husband...

But as Jane Austen wrote, there are as many forms of love as there are moments in time.

The Greeks had multiple words for love. But just pause for a moment and think about the greatest (longest) potential love of all—the one we often forget to include: loving yourself.

I Wanna Know What Love (really) Is…

Self-love is often marketed as bubble baths, spa days, or indulgences. And while those can be great, loving yourself goes deeper. It’s about honoring what truly nourishes you, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, on a deeper level.

Does love mean giving yourself permission to rest? Exercising your right to move your body in a way that feels good? Taking deep breaths to reset? Reconnecting with someone or something? Letting go of whatever no longer serves you?

Self-love doesn’t have to cost anything other than “spending” your time on you. It’s about recognizing what makes you feel connected and whole.

To Know You is to Love You?

And that’s both the simplest and the toughest thing to discover.

If you forget for a moment what social media and ads are trying to push as the most appropriate or fashionable self-care/love of the day, it only leaves YOU, to think about you.

You might easily be able to list the “areas for improvement” – because our subconscious is protective, and prepares for the worst (just in case, so you won’t be disappointed).

Sometimes we need help to uncover our strengths and loving nature in the beginning. It might take a bit of courage to ask others what makes us special, loveable or a good ______ in their lives, but it is SO worth it (and it makes other people feel great to finally share their positive thoughts about you too!)

?In the end, however, when you dig deep within yourself, understanding what really matters most to you, you can start to find your USP (Unique Self-Loving Proposition).

And then you can make it part of your life. Including what truly makes you feel good, self-supported, cared for from the inside out. Yes, schedule your self-love time just like you’d schedule any important meeting. You are worth the time (and it will give excellent returns!)

Love Yourself Some Slack

In relationships, we may argue over dishes or differing opinions, but it doesn’t change the other person’s value, even when we are annoyed with them for a while.

We can have philosophical or political disagreements with others, but can fundamentally understand that the people behind the opinions have value and are working on different programming, influences or world views than we have.

When it comes to self-love, it’s the same. Take a second to acknowledge something really important: You are inherently lovable.

Not for what you do, not for your productivity, not for how you think, not for who you know, but simply for who you are.

I’ve spent over 20 years helping people see how incredible they truly are. Yet, we are often our own harshest critics. If we spoke to others the way we speak to ourselves, would we still have friends?

So it might be time this month to give yourself a little bit of compassion because as human beings, we do make mistakes.

We set the bar ridiculously high and miss it.

We aren’t the curated being we see online.

As Alexander Pope wrote “to err is human, to forgive divine” – we’re doing the best we can with the information, experience and tools that we have. And that’s a lot! Forgiving/Giving ourselves a little bit of compassion, a little bit of space, a little bit of loving goes a long way because it doesn't matter what you do or don't do for your intrinsic value. The fundamental you IS lovable.

Love Starts with You

We’ve all heard the oxygen mask analogy—you can’t help others if you’re depleted.

When you nurture your own sense of self-love, it naturally overflows to those around you.

You become a living example of love in action. And as you lift yourself up, everyone around you is naturally lifted, too.

Even lemon meringue pie might taste better. But that’s another story.

So, this month, let’s not just love others—let’s love ourselves. ‘Cause yours is the only heart you’re gonna have for life (thanks, Demi Lovato).

What’s one way you can practice/explore self-love today? Let me know or drop a comment—I’d love to hear!

Love YOU,

Jennifer