The Moment I Truly Understood Self-Love

We spend so much of our lives looking for love in all the wrong places, don’t we? Whether it’s in relationships, in fleeting moments of happiness, or in things we think will make us feel whole, we often overlook the one place where love truly resides—within ourselves.

I spent years chasing the idea of self-love, thinking it was something external, something I needed to find rather than realise. I sought it in other people, in achievements, in the validation of others. But it wasn’t until one cold December night, when I was sitting under a sky that didn’t offer any wishes—only rain—that everything changed.

In that moment, I saw the truth.

I was sitting there, shoulders heavy with the weight of my worries, looking at my reflection in the mirror, and for the first time, everything made sense. The love I had been searching for was not something out there; it was me.

It was me who held my own hand when no one else was around. It was me who wiped my tears when the world felt too big. It was me who healed my broken pieces, gently and patiently, as though I was learning how to piece together a puzzle that was never truly meant to be broken.

And do you know what? It was always me.

This realisation hit me in a way I didn’t expect. I had spent years waiting for someone else to fix me, to make me feel whole, to complete me. But the truth was, I was already whole. I had always been whole. It just took me time to see it.

That night, I made a promise to myself. No matter what happened—no matter who left, no matter who hurt me—I would always stay. I would always be there for myself. And I would find a way to heal, again and again, no matter how many times life tried to knock me down.

This is what self-love is. It’s not just a fluffy concept or a feel-good idea that we read about in books. It’s real, it’s raw, and it’s incredibly powerful. It’s knowing that, at the end of the day, you’ve got yourself. And that’s all you need.

The next time you feel lost, uncertain, or alone, remember this: You are your own greatest love story. And when you realise that, everything else falls into place.

If you’ve ever had a moment where you realised that no matter what happens, you’ll always be there for yourself—drop a heart below.

Let’s celebrate the love we’ve learned to give ourselves 💖

The piece that was inspired by this experience is in my book, My Hope For Tomorrow, page 26.

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Quick Updates 🌟

As the year wraps up, I wanted to share a few exciting updates with you all!

📚 Order The Path to Self-Love: It’s now up to 40% off on Amazon and available worldwide! Thank you so much for your incredible support. If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, you can order it here. I hope it inspires you on your journey to self-love!

✨ Subscribe to my YouTube channel: I’ve got new videos coming your way in the new year, and if you missed the latest ones, catch up here!

🎧 Listen to my podcast: New episodes will be out soon! If you haven’t listened to one yet, check them out here. Your thoughts on the episodes are always welcome!

🎤 Watch my TEDx talk: We’ve hit 11k views—thank you for all the love! If you haven’t watched it yet, check it out here. Please like, share, and comment—your support means the world!

Thank you for being here and for all your continued love and support! 💖

Love,

Ruby Dhal xxx

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