Do You Truly Love Yourself? - lifereader.co.uk

By Ann: It’s a confronting question—especially when you find yourself accepting poor treatment from a partner, friend, or employer.

If you’re tolerating disrespect, neglect, or emotional harm, it’s time to ask: Is this love for myself? Turning a blind eye isn’t self-love—it’s self-abandonment.

At some point in life, we all must reassess what serves us and what doesn’t. This often means letting go of people or environments that no longer support our growth. That’s not easy, especially when love is involved, whether it’s with a partner, friend, or even a job.

Let’s talk about work. How many people stay in jobs that make them miserable just for the paycheck? Yes, we all have bills, but the cost of staying in a toxic job is stress, illness, and a loss of joy. If you dread going to work every morning, it’s time to find something that uplifts you. Your happiness matters—and it’s your responsibility.

The same goes for relationships. You cannot grow in dead soil. Wasting your time and energy on people who don’t value you, gossip about you, or consistently let you down isn’t noble—it’s harmful. If you keep saying you’ll make a change, but never do, ask yourself why. Often, we stay stuck because we fear loss or confrontation. We become people-pleasers, prioritizing others’ comfort over our own peace.

But being a people-pleaser comes at a high cost. The truth is, loving yourself sometimes means walking away from people you care about. Growth requires hard choices, but you are the only one who can make them.

Learn the art of letting go. Whether it’s a toxic relationship, unhealthy habit, or draining situation, release what no longer serves you. Speak up when you’re being gaslit or manipulated. Use your voice—not in anger, but in clarity and strength.
Rejection? It’s not about you. It’s someone else’s opinion, and you don’t have to accept it. Let it go with grace.

Let me share a story. A dear friend of mine gave endlessly to others—her time, her energy, her love. But she never gave to herself. Now, she’s battling stage four cancer, and many of the people she supported are nowhere to be found. The friends standing by her are those who loved her for who she was, not for what she gave them. One of them is me.

If you love yourself, take care of yourself first. You can’t pour from an empty cup. I once asked a friend: “If the oxygen masks drop on a plane, and others need help, what do you do?” She said she’d help them first. I told her, “You’ll die if you don’t put your own mask on first.” She paused and realized—you can’t help anyone if you’re not breathing yourself.

So, go to the doctor. Book the check-up. Take the leap. Let go of what’s weighing you down. You’re responsible for your life. Stop waiting. Start choosing yourself.

With love and light,

 Ann