Self-Love: From Our Heads to Our Hearts

In the first conversation of the Foundations Series, we'll explore the topic of Self-Love.

Have you ever heard the phrase “you just need to love yourself more” and felt a twinge of resistance, or perhaps even a sense of discomfort?

Self-love is often presented as a cure for all sorts of struggles: from anxiety and depression to perfectionism and low self-esteem… But rarely are we given a roadmap for what self-love looks like. Many of us grew up in environments where self-love wasn’t modelled. We may have sensed, even as children, that our caregivers struggled to love themselves.

If self-love required no explanation, wouldn’t we all be better at it? Why can self-love be hard to tap into, or even make us feel a bit uncomfortable? How do we transform self-love from an idea that exists in our head to a lived experience that is rooted in our heart?

Our conversation will be structured in two parts:

1. Barriers to Self-Love
   We’ll explore what gets in the way of self-love, including questions like:
   - What do we understand self-love to be? What does the concept of self-love bring up in you? Is self-love different from self-indulgence?
   - How is self-love shaped by the environments we grew up, and operate, in? Can self-love be “self-taught”?
   - Is our love for others a reflection of our love for ourselves?
   - Why can the idea of loving others be more comfortable than the idea of loving ourselves?
2. Self-Love Toolbox
   We’ll discuss how to build self-love for ourselves and others, including questions like:
   - What is the goal of self-love?
   - What are some of the core skills of self-love?
   - How can we show love to ourselves when we feel unworthy?
   - Can we encourage others to love themselves, even when we disagree with them?

This is a space for honest reflection, not quick fixes. Come as you are: with your insights, questions and real-life stories. Let’s explore together.

The Foundations Series is a collection of discussions where we map out the inner landscape of connection. These gatherings explore the building blocks - from the inner practices that make connection possible to the vulnerabilities that unravel it.