Self-love looks different depending on the season you’re in. Sometimes it’s loud and celebratory, like buying yourself flowers and solo dating. Other times it’s quiet and protective, like saying no without guilt and resting without apology. Either way, at its core, self-love is about giving yourself grace and showing up for yourself with love and intention.
Personally, I am in my Protect My Peace era. No drama. No negativity. No bad vibes. I reached a point where I realized I couldn’t keep pouring from an empty cup, so I turned inward to do the work.
This season of my Soulful Soft Life looks like the warmth of slow mornings, daily affirmations, limited social media use, quiet weekends on DND, surrounding myself with people who uplift and inspire me, and wearing my ’Self Love’ Brown Heart Necklace as a reminder to show myself some extra love whenever I walk past a mirror.
It’s simple, but I cannot tell you how much these intentional lifestyle changes have helped me to navigate societal pressures and find joy in the simple beauty of life.
Since launching BrownStyle Magazine, I’ve been truly intentional with my time and energy, and I’ve noticed that there’s a quiet kind of joy that rises in your life when you slow down and pour into yourself.
The heart of a self-care journey is learning that self-love is not selfish. It’s actually a daily decision to give yourself grace, honor the season you are in, and show up as the best version of yourself.
Through reflection, I’ve learned that when you pour into yourself, you don’t just fill your own cup; you change the way you move through the world. You show up with more clarity, more softness, more intention. You become a safe place for yourself.
With slowness and intention, you also get to truly cherish days like International Self‑Love Day, which is an annual reminder on February 13th to treat yourself with love, kindness, and gratitude.
While you don’t need to wait for a holiday to practice self-love, it’s a great opportunity to pause and ask yourself: How can I honor myself today? What does my spirit need? How can I pour back into myself?
And interestingly enough, when you answer honestly, something shifts. You start to feel lighter. You start to feel more grounded. You start to feel like you again.
I’ve learned that peace doesn’t arrive by accident; it grows in the places where you choose yourself consistently. It shows up when you stop abandoning your own needs. It expands when you stop shrinking to make others comfortable. Peace is the natural byproduct of self-love — the kind that isn’t rushed, forced, or filtered for approval.
So, if you haven’t already, do something for YOU today. Workout, buy yourself a box of chocolate, celebrate your wins, reflect on your strengths, take a walk, snuggle up with a good book— do what brings you joy and peace. You deserve it!
No matter the season you’re in, choosing yourself is always the beginning of peace and soft living. ✨🤎
