Hey there. Let’s talk about being your own fan. For most of my life, I was really good at being my own worst critic. I could tear myself down in seconds. Every mistake became a reason to confirm some story I told myself about not being good enough. If you’ve ever felt like that, you’re not alone.
But what if we flipped it? What if we made being our own biggest supporter the new goal?
One of the most powerful things I’ve started doing is standing in front of the mirror, looking myself in the eyes, and saying, “I love you.” That’s it. Some days I say it once and feel nothing. Other days I have to say it 27 times before it starts to feel even slightly believable. And that’s okay. The point is to keep doing it.
Once you start feeling a little shift, name a few things you like about yourself. They can be physical traits, parts of your personality, or just qualities you admire in yourself. It’s awkward at first, but I promise it makes a difference.
This doesn’t make all the negative thoughts go away forever. You’ll still have days where you’re hard on yourself. But over time, the voice that tells you “you’re not enough” gets quieter. You start to respond differently. When I mess something up now, instead of instantly spiraling into “I’m a screw-up,” I can catch myself. I remind myself that messing up doesn’t mean I am a mess-up.
This shift takes time. It takes intentional effort. And for some of us, it might mean getting help from a professional. If you’ve even had the smallest thought that talking to a counselor or therapist might help, I encourage you to follow through. It’s a strength, not a weakness. If your job offers mental health support, take advantage of it. You deserve it.
Learning to love yourself is not about pretending you’re perfect. It’s about choosing to treat yourself with the same kindness and support you’d offer a close friend. And it starts with that daily choice to show up for yourself.
If you want help building this kind of mindset and self-connection into your health and fitness journey, join The YLF Experience. You’ll be supported every step of the way.