Although self-love is often romanticized as something we should naturally have, the truth is that for most of us, self-love feels uncomfortable and inauthentic. This energy runs counter to society’s teaching that love, like trust, must be earned through conditions, transactions, and meeting expectations set by someone or something outside of us.

Learning to love yourself by prioritizing and tending to your beautiful essence is a journey—one of the most important undertakings you will ever embark on. We all deserve to thrive and connect deeply with this life-giving energy every day—indeed, every moment! We were born loved, but through the twists and turns of living and trying to keep up, we unknowingly stepped out of alignment. So much goodness abounds when self-love is invited in, prioritized, and nurtured. This is the pathway to boundless gifts of harmony, gratitude, and strength.

For this episode of Life Mastery TV, I’ve invited back my good friend, Nancy Stevens, a lifestyle specialist, life coach, and self-care mentor, to help shed some light on this important topic. Here are some of the things we plan to discuss:

Why We Struggle with Self-Love

Societal conditioning, negative self-talk, fear of judgment, and perfectionism are just some of the ways we block ourselves from self-love. And if we want to get back to that important element, then we must do the inner work necessary to reduce or eliminate these bad habits.

Why Self-Love is Essential

Self-love is a foundation for healthy relationship, and helps to foster emotional resilience. In addition, it can help us move forward in our lives in a way that leads to true fulfillment. Most importantly, self-love is a catalyst for authentic self-expression, which empowers us to live according to our own desires rather than the expectations of others.

Self-Acceptance & Resilience

Loving yourself means embracing all of who you are—the good, the messy and everything in between—which brings a felt sense of calm, peace and support in quieting the inner critic. At the same time, you develop the strength to handle all of life’s ups and downs. Your self-worth no longer depend on anything external—instead, it is cultivated from within creating a powerful foundation that stays grounded through all of life’s moments.

Cultivating Self-Love

Self-love is a practice, not a destination. It begins with small, conscious actions: embracing your imperfections, reframing negative self-talk, setting boundaries, and practicing kindness toward yourself. Over time, these practices create a sense of living from nourished abundance, and you become self-reliant for obtaining happiness within.

Ultimately, self-love is about recognizing that you are inherently worthy, simply by being. You don’t need to prove yourself or earn love—it is already within you, waiting to be uncovered and embraced. The journey to self-love may not be easy, but it is undoubtedly worth it, as it leads to a life of greater peace, authenticity, and joy.