Who Would You Say "I Love You" To?

Recently, someone asked me to name three people I'd want to say "I love you" to in the next 15 seconds. As I listed them, I had a striking realization – I didn't include myself. It made me wonder: How many of us forget to include ourselves in our circle of love?

We're masters at loving others. We'll move mountains for our family, sacrifice sleep for our friends, and give our all to those we care about. Yet when it comes to self-love, we often treat it as an afterthought, or worse, label it as selfish.

Let's try something: Close your eyes and think about how you treated yourself today. Did you:

• Skip a meal to help someone else?
• Ignore your body's need for rest?
• Push aside your boundaries to accommodate others?
• Postpone your well-being for "more important" things?

The irony is that by depleting ourselves, we diminish our capacity to love others fully. It's like trying to light others' candles while letting our own flame flicker out.

Three Simple Truths About Self-Love:

1. It's not selfish – it's necessary
2. It enables deeper connections with others
3. It's the foundation for authentic giving

Start here:

• Set one non-negotiable boundary today
• Write down three qualities you appreciate about yourself
• Give yourself permission to rest without justification
• Treat yourself with the same compassion you offer others

Remember: If you were one of the three people you'd say "I love you" to, how would you treat yourself differently? Because the truth is, you deserve to be on that list. Not just as an afterthought, but as a priority.

What changes when you include yourself in your circle of love? Share your thoughts below.