Loving Yourself is a Decision: Begin with Your Heart

There is a moment—a quiet, almost imperceptible moment—when everything can change. It doesn’t come with fireworks or declarations. It arrives gently, like a breath, like a whisper. And it begins when you choose… to love yourself.

Not in the way the world often teaches us. Not as a reward for perfection or achievement. But as a sacred decision to return to the truth of who you are. To go back to your heart—and begin there.

The Moment You Decide

Loving yourself is not always easy. Some days, the mirror may reflect more doubt than devotion. Some days, the voice in your head may speak more criticism than care.

But there is power in choosing love anyway. In placing a hand over your heart, closing your eyes, and deciding: I will be kind to myself today. I will be patient. I will try again. I will begin again.

This decision doesn’t need to be loud. It just needs to be yours.

A Visualization: Returning to Your Heart

Find a quiet space. Sit down. Let your hands rest gently on your chest.

Close your eyes and breathe.

Inhale softness. Exhale tension.

Now imagine a soft, glowing light inside your heart. Maybe it’s pink, or golden, or the color of the sunrise.

See it pulsing gently—warm, open, alive. This is your true self. The part of you that has always known how to love.

Breathe into this light. Let it expand through your body.

Let it remind you: You are worthy. You are lovable. You are enough.

Meeting the Inner Girl Within You

Inside every woman lives a younger version of herself. A girl who once laughed freely, who played without fear, who loved without conditions. Sometimes, she is still there waiting—for your tenderness, for your listening, for your love.

Take a moment now to meet her.

Sit in stillness and imagine your younger self—perhaps at 5, 9, or 12 years old. See her clearly. What is she wearing? What is she feeling? Does she have something to tell you?

Offer her your presence. Hold her hand in your imagination. Let her know:

"You are safe now. I see you. I love you. I will take care of you."

You may even ask her what she needs from you. Her answers might surprise you.

Loving the Inner Girl Within You

Inside each of us lives a little girl who remembers. She remembers the wonder, the hurt, the curiosity, the loneliness, the joy. She is the keeper of our early truths—and the ache of the moments we didn’t feel seen or heard.

She is still waiting to be held.

Healing the relationship with your inner child isn’t just a poetic idea—it’s a profound act of love. When you begin to re-parent yourself with softness and awareness, you gently reclaim the parts of you that may have been dismissed or forgotten. You learn to hold yourself in ways you always longed to be held.

When you connect with her, you remember who you are beyond the stories.

A Guided Inner Child Meditation:

Find a quiet place. Place one hand on your heart, and one on your belly.

Close your eyes and take several slow, calming breaths.

Now picture yourself as a child—choose the age that comes to you intuitively. See her clearly. Notice what she’s wearing, how she feels, what her eyes say.

Imagine kneeling beside her. Hold her hand. Gently ask: “What do you need right now?” Wait. Listen. Let her speak.

Tell her: “I love you. I am here now. You are never alone again.”

Let this visualization become part of your self-love ritual. Return to her often. Ask her what she needs, and begin to offer that to yourself, today.

Tender Ways to Nurture Your Inner Girl

These small but powerful acts help bring safety, playfulness, and tenderness back into your daily life:

Write to Her in a Journal
Let her speak freely. Let her ramble or cry. Write back with compassion. This opens a dialogue that softens deep wounds.

Reclaim Joyful Play
Color with crayons. Bake cookies. Dance barefoot to your favorite childhood songs. Revisit the hobbies that brought you joy with no pressure to be good at them—just be with them.

Keep a Photo Nearby
Place a childhood photo of yourself on your altar, mirror, or desk. Every time you see it, send her love. Let her be a living reminder of your softness and light.

Create a Safe Space for Her
Designate a “nurturing nook” in your home with cozy textures, stuffed animals, soft lighting, and anything that brings comfort. Retreat there when you need gentleness.

Recommended Inner Child Resources:

“Homecoming” by John Bradshaw – A powerful guide to reconnecting with your inner child through reflection and re-parenting tools.
“The Inner Child Workbook” by Cathryn L. Taylor – Practical exercises to heal early wounds and reframe limiting beliefs.
Guided meditations from teachers like Thich Nhat Hanh, Lise Bourbeau, or Tara Brach, focusing on compassion and emotional healing.
Journaling prompts:
✧ What did I most need to hear as a child?
✧ What were my favorite ways to feel joy?
✧ What do I want to say to my inner girl today?

Practices for Loving Yourself More Fully

These small, sacred practices help build a loving relationship with yourself—one gentle decision at a time:

Mirror Mantras: Look into your eyes each morning and say something kind. “I am proud of you.” “You are doing your best.” “You are beautiful, just as you are.”

Write a Love Letter to Your Inner Child: Tell her all the things she longed to hear. Reassure her. Thank her for being brave. Let her know she is adored.

Daily Heart Check-In: Close your eyes. Put your hand over your heart. Ask, “How are you feeling today?” Then simply listen—without fixing or rushing.

Create a Self-Love Altar: Place a photo of your younger self, a candle, and a few objects that bring you comfort or joy. Visit this space often and offer her your love.