How to Start Reclaiming Self-Love When You’ve Forgotten Your Worth

Self-love is not just a trend ~ it’s a spiritual and psychological necessity. It’s the foundation of how we move through the world, set boundaries, choose relationships, and respond to our pain. But for many of us, self-love isn’t something we were taught. In fact, we may have been conditioned to put others first, doubt ourselves, or internalize criticism as truth. If you’ve ever felt unworthy, "too much," or never enough, you are not alone, and you can heal.

Self-love doesn’t begin with perfection. It begins with awareness and the decision to come back home to yourself. Healing your self-esteem and learning to love yourself again after emotional trauma, neglect, or abuse takes time, but it is entirely possible.

Why We Lose Connection to Self-Love

Many of us lose access to our self-worth early. We learn to adapt to parents, teachers, or partners who couldn’t meet our emotional needs. We develop survival patterns that tell us we are only lovable if we achieve, please, or shrink ourselves. Over time, these coping strategies get mistaken for identity, and that’s where the wounding deepens.

The good news? These are learned beliefs. And what’s learned can be unlearned.

Rebuilding Self-Worth: 3 Gentle Shifts to Start Today

• Notice your inner critic and name it. Give it a separate voice so it no longer disguises itself as truth.

• Start asking, “Whose voice is this really?” ~ was it a caregiver, a past partner, or society’s expectations?

• Do one small act each day that communicates “I matter.” It could be brushing your hair gently, cooking yourself a nourishing meal, or speaking up for your needs.

Healing self-love wounds isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about returning to who you’ve always been beneath the distortion.

Need a Gentle Daily Practice?

My 30-Day Self-Love & Self-Esteem Healing Journal is designed exactly for this process — with powerful daily prompts and affirmations to help you uncover where your self-worth got wounded, and what steps to take to reclaim it. You’ll begin to see patterns, reframe beliefs, and meet yourself with the compassion you always deserved.

🌼 A 2-Minute Self-Love Visualization

Find a quiet space. Close your eyes. Picture your younger self, maybe at age 5 or 6 ~ sitting in a safe, peaceful room. See yourself walking in, kind and gentle. You kneel beside them and say:

"You didn’t have to earn love. You always were enough. I see you now. I’ll never leave you again."

Let those words sink in. Let the image soften. Stay there for a few breaths longer, then slowly open your eyes.

Welcome back.

You are lovable exactly as you are.

With love,
Ascension Healing & Therapy
🕊️ Helping you rise, gently.