Some Reflections On The Power Of Self Love
Healing the Inner Child, Raising Your Standards, and Embodying Self-Love to Transform Your Life from the Inside Out
Sometimes, the journey to learning how to truly love ourselves begins when we’ve been disrespected, overlooked, or not loved in the ways we deserved. These painful moments can become the catalyst that pushes us inward — to heal, to reclaim our worth, and to build a deeper, more compassionate relationship with ourselves.
Some relationships come to crack us open and remind us to love ourselves more. As we mend the broken pieces of our hearts. As we pick ourselves up off the floor. As we learn to be alone and reconnect with ourselves. We are reminded of how to love ourselves out of heartbreak and into the loving arms of our own embrace.
Self love is a topic that is dear to my heart. I was never truly taught how to love myself growing up. I don’t think many of us were. True self love is accepting all parts of ourselves — never rejecting a single part. When we reject parts of ourselves or past versions of ourselves, we are left to face them later on. Maybe in the mirror of another. Anything we do not like about ourselves will always be shown to us — especially through the connections we make in life.
Connections serve as mirrors. A mirror to go back within our vessel and connect with ourselves. To accept our shadows and our light. For without the shadows, there would be no light. True self love is self acceptance of the human experience in all its divinity. All of our emotions… our shame, our grief, our sensitivity, our love, our joy, and everything in between.
True self love means we never abandon ourselves or neglect our needs. Because when we do, we are abandoning the inner child within us — the part of us that needs our love and acceptance the most. Every time you want to abandon, shame, or dislike a part of yourself, think to yourself… would you treat your own child like this, if you have one?
Would you not eat and starve a child because you are body conscious and shaming God’s creation? No — you would tell that child they are beautiful just as they are.
Would you not take a child out for fresh air because you feel depressed? No — you would go do it.
Every act you would do for a child’s well-being is how you should treat yourself. That is the essence of self love. Tending to your basic needs. Caring for your physical body. And nurturing your mind through the way you speak to yourself.
When you speak to a child, you wouldn’t degrade their looks. You wouldn’t tell them their painting isn’t good enough. You wouldn’t tell them to wait to create a skit they’re excited about because they just aren’t ready yet. You’d let them create. You’d let them enjoy themselves — even if it turned out messy or imperfect. Because they are enjoying themselves after all.
As adults, we put so much pressure on ourselves to create perfectly — and if we can’t, we don’t even try. But why don’t we begin to release this pressure of perfection and let our inner child run off the leash more?
If we make a mistake, we won’t reprimand ourselves — we’ll lovingly learn from it and keep going. When a child has an emotional outburst, our immediate reaction is to soothe them. So why, when we’re not feeling great, do we abandon and shame ourselves instead?
Why do we let our inner dialogue spiral into,
“I’m not good enough,”
“I’m weak for feeling this way,”
“I need to do more. I need to work more. I need to distract myself.”
Why don’t we sit and have a loving, compassionate conversation with ourselves in those moments? If a child was struggling, we would sit with them. We’d tell them gentle words of encouragement. So let’s start doing this when we need those words the most too.
Let’s accept that we won’t be “perfect” all the time — and that what’s most important is loving ourselves through the good times, the bad, and the messy middle. The human experience is not a performance. We didn’t come to Earth to win an Oscar for being the most perfect, robotic human who hustles constantly and looks flawless 24/7. Maybe we were born into a society with unrealistic expectations… but it’s up to us to unlearn, reprogram, and rebuild a self-concept rooted in real, grounded self love.
Because once we do, everything else around us begins to fall into place.
When you truly love yourself, your confidence becomes natural. You begin to respect yourself enough to go after your desires without letting fear, procrastination, perfectionism, or self doubt get in the way. You realize that all of that is illusion. It’s not you.
You start to accept your body, your essence, your look — without constantly trying to fix or change everything. Whether you are heavier or skinnier, you begin to understand: your worth is unchanged. You’ll still aspire to feel like the best version of yourself — but it won’t consume you or send you spiraling. You’ll take grounded action to shift into a life you actually want to live. A life you don’t need to escape from. You’ll begin fulfilling your desires… because you finally know you’re worthy of them.
Your manifestation abilities amplify when you start to practice self love. Why? Because the frequency of someone who truly loves and knows their worth is so high — it becomes magnetic. That kind of energy attracts everything you desire with ease.
Self love will protect you.
It will save you from narcissistic characters, manipulative energies, and toxic dynamics. You simply won’t be able to accept disrespect anymore — your standards will be too high. Not out of ego — but because you care for yourself on such a deep level.
You’ll become selective about your friendships, about who you allow in your space. You’ll attract a partner who meets you at your standard. If you buy yourself flowers every Sunday, or take yourself to dinner alone, your future partner will notice that — and either match your energy or step out of your life. You won’t have to explain your worth. You’ll embody it. And your actions will always show others how to treat you.
People will naturally respect you the more you respect and love yourself. So practising embodying daily self love will only benefit your relationships, your career and every area of your external life. Your internal creates your external. Start building a safe non chaotic and loving home within. And watch your world blossom and bloom on the outside.
🌹 Ways to Start Loving Yourself More Now (So You Can Level Up Every Area of Life):
Talk to yourself like someone you love. Notice your inner dialogue. Would you say those things to a child? If not, don’t say them to yourself.
Take care of your basic needs. Eat nourishing meals, drink enough water, get sunlight, move your body, sleep enough — not as punishment, but as love.
Make time for silence and connection. Be with yourself. Journal. Go for a walk alone. Light a candle. Sit with your feelings without judgment.
Romanticize your own life. Buy yourself flowers. Dress up for no reason. Take yourself on dates. Make your life beautiful for you.
Release perfectionism. Let yourself create, mess up, and try again. Nothing needs to be perfect to be meaningful.
Set strong boundaries. Saying no is a form of self respect. You are allowed to protect your peace and choose what you engage with.
Surround yourself with aligned people. Be mindful of who you allow near your energy. Choose those who reflect the love and standard you hold for yourself.
Celebrate your small wins. Every step forward counts. Acknowledge your efforts — even when no one else does.
Reconnect with your inner child. Play. Create. Dance. Be silly. Let joy be part of your healing too.
Remind yourself daily: I am worthy, simply because I exist.
🌷 Gentle Self Love Journal Prompts
Here are some gentle self love journal prompts to reflect on.
I hope they help give you clarity as you let whatever you write flow — with no judgment.
This is simply a time to connect with yourself, and find little clues that will guide you deeper on your self love journey. 💗
And remember:
It’s a lifelong journey of commitment to self love.It’s not something you magically “have” and then forget about. I’m still walking this path, just like you are. Some days it’s harder to love myself, and other days it’s easier. But no matter what, I choose to send compassion to myself on this journey — as a soul having a human experience.
❤️❤️
What parts of myself have I been rejecting, hiding, or trying to change — and why? (Where did I learn that these parts weren’t lovable?)
If I spoke to myself the way I’d speak to a child I adore, how would my words, choices, and actions shift?
What does my inner child need from me right now? How can I begin to offer that in simple, loving ways this week?
When was the last time I felt truly proud of myself — and what does that version of me want me to remember today?
What are three daily or weekly rituals I can create to care for myself with more softness and presence? (Examples: mirror affirmations, solo dates, nourishing food, quiet time, dancing, rest.)
What old beliefs about love, beauty, or worth am I ready to let go of — especially the ones that were never truly mine?
In what ways am I settling or abandoning myself — and what would someone who deeply loves themselves do instead?
What do I need to forgive myself for so I can move forward with more compassion and freedom?
What would my life look and feel like if I fully believed: “I am enough exactly as I am”?
How can I show up for myself with the same tenderness I would offer a loved one going through what I’m going through?
Sending you all of my love on your own individual self-love journey. Let me know in the comments your thoughts on self love and what it means to you ❤️ I wrote this without a lot of structure. Only with the intention to let my writing flow and share without it being “perfect”. An invitation to show up more freely in all you do as an act of self love this week.
Hi, I’m Eleana, and this is Aphrodite’s Space — a safe place for self-love, soul healing, and feminine power.
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It’s time to become the highest version of yourself. 🌹✨🪄
love how u write and would love if u ever want to read any of my pieces bc i aspire to write similarly to u and wld value what u say ahh sorry this is really out of the blue 🥲
There’s such grounded wisdom in this piece, and it speaks to something so many of us are hungry for: a more honest, compassionate relationship with ourselves. I especially felt the power in your reminder that self-love isn’t something to achieve, it’s something to embody. Not through grand gestures, but through the small, consistent ways we show up for ourselves, again and again. That kind of love, the quiet, everyday kind, is what so many of us were never taught but are now learning to cultivate. Thank you for naming the messiness and magic of what it really means to come home to ourselves.