Self-care, and ideas for how to implement it, have been popular topics of conversation over the last several years. Whether or not you’ve read the best self-help books or mapped out a routine to help you stay on track, you’re likely familiar with what it looks like (exercise, a bubble bath, or quality time with friends might come to mind), and the many health benefits it has to offer. Self-love is a related concept, but it is also much more personal in several important ways.
As these quotes about self-love will illustrate, learning to value oneself is a process of discovery that looks different for every person. Psychology Today explains that it’s not as simple as getting a makeover or finding a new relationship. Instead, self-love grows from “actions that support our physical, psychological, and spiritual growth.” It’s an ongoing process that can be cultivated through acts such as mindfulness, creating boundaries, forgiveness, and living intentionally, all of which will mean something completely unique for every individual.
While this might all sound daunting, these quotes will inspire you to get started on your self-love journey. Some of the most well-known writers, entertainers, fashion designers, and even Supreme Court justices have made powerful statements about learning to embrace their individuality to lead richer, more fulfilling lives. Finding and maintaining self-love isn’t the most straightforward task for anyone, but these sentiments show how it’s well-worth the pursuit.
1
Oscar Wilde
“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.”
2
Diane Von Furstenberg
“When a woman becomes her own best friend, life is easier.”
3
Tina Fey, Bossypants
“Do your thing and don't care if they like it.”
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4
Rumi
“You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.”
5
Marilyn Monroe
“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.”
6
Brené Brown
“I now see how owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.”
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7
Nora Ephron
“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.”
8
Tara Westover
“Forgiveness isn't just the absence of anger. I think it's also the presence of self-love, when you actually begin to value yourself.
9
Unknown
“Be so completely yourself that everyone else feels safe to be themselves, too.”
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10
Eartha Kitt
“It’s all about falling in love with yourself and sharing that love with someone who appreciates you, rather than looking for love to compensate for a self love deficit.”
11
Jodi Picoult, Change of Heart
“When you're different, sometimes you don't see the millions of people who accept you for what you are. All you notice is the person who doesn't.”
12
Lucille Ball
“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.”
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13
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.”
14
Warsan Shire
“Document the moments you feel most in love with yourself – what you’re wearing, who you’re around, what you’re doing. Recreate and repeat.”
15
Maya Angelou, Letter to My Daughter
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
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16
Aristotle
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”
17
Tyra Banks
“Self-love has very little to do with how you feel about your outer self. It's about accepting all of yourself.”
18
Buddha
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
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19
Kate Mara
“Being comfortable in your own skin is one of the most important things to achieve. I’m still working on it!”
20
Fred Rogers
“If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.”
Samantha Lawyer
Sam Lawyer is a lifestyle writer and television producer based in New York City. She’s been contributing to Woman’s Day for nearly five years, and covers a variety of topics from gifting, to health, and entertainment. Her work has additionally been featured in Cosmopolitan, Country Living, and Good Housekeeping. When she’s not writing or producing, you can find her binging her favorite Bravo shows or getting walked by her French Bulldog.
