I woke up this morning feeling a deep sense of dread. “Today is going to be hard.” I feel it now more so than ever. I know my insecurities and my ego will be acting up today, as they have been doing recently. But honestly, I know I have something to learn from it. I know that I’m stubborn and reluctant to accept certain things, and when I put effort into something, I expect immediate gratification. Today, however, I’m going to take deep breaths and replace every single negative thought with one of love and peacefulness. Loving yourself is a process, and that process can be very difficult for some people. But I know the life I want to have and I know with love, it is possible. So I’m going to love every part of myself, even the shitty parts, the parts of me that say “you’re not good enough.” Because those parts need love the most. Affirm with me, if you’d like, “I love myself first. I matter. I love my insecurities, my flaws, my ego. The love I seek is within me.” I hope someone reading this feels a little less alone if they’re struggling. We’re in this together!