Choose to Love Yourself

You have probably heard this verse many times before: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

It is a great command, yet it is often misunderstood. We focus on loving others while neglecting the second part—as you love “yourself”.

The truth is, you cannot pour from an empty cup. You cannot give what you do not have.

We usually think of love as just a feeling. However, deep love goes beyond that. It's something that we decide on, a daily choice to show up with care, kindness, and commitment. The same goes for how you treat yourself.

Self-love is not selfishness or arrogance. It is about learning to speak to yourself with kindness instead of criticism. It is being gentle with yourself when you make mistakes, showing compassion when you struggle, and treating yourself with the same respect and warmth you would offer to a close friend.

This doesn’t happen overnight. Love is a habit, and loving yourself requires as much practice. Some days are effortless, other days are a drag. But the more you practice, the more it becomes part of who you are.

When you choose to love yourself, you grow in wholeness, and you also expand your ability to love others more fully.

So today, pause and ask yourself: How can I show love to myself in this moment? And then take a small step in that direction.

Choose to love yourself.