Self-love is an amazing journey that I chose to take many years ago. My journey started with a simple three-word affirmation, “I LOVE MYSELF!” I won’t lie and say it was easy, but it has definitely been worth it. As a victim of medical childhood trauma at the hands of a nurse, I was left crippled for life and dealing with chronic pain every day. This was what I called the beginning of my walking limitations. I knew nothing about “self-love”, and as I got older, I started piling on more of those limitations. One morning, I took a long hard look at myself in the mirror and said, “today is going to be a great day because You are going to make it so!” And guess what, it was a great day. That was when I discovered the power of affirmations.

From the age of four until I was fourteen years old, I had surgery every year on my right leg and foot. I couldn’t go outside and run and play with the other kids. I was picked out to be picked on and I was bullied throughout my high school years. I was the weakest link…I was a victim. To say my self-esteem was low, would be a total understatement and loving myself was a foreign concept. I found myself trying to please people. I became more concerned with other people’s mental wellness than I was my own. I went out of my way to make sure everybody was happy. I got tired of allowing myself to be treated as though I was not as important as anyone else, I got tired of being disregarded and treated like a victim.

I started studying the bible and understanding what love and true sacrifice really was. I begin to read self-help books and listen to inspirational and motivational messages. My “mirror” conversations became opportunities for me to experiment. Every morning, I would make up an affirmation that I would repeat throughout the day. “I Love Myself” was and is still my favorite. I begin to notice my confidence grew, my self-esteem increased and I no longer felt like I was the “weakest link!” As an effort to encourage others, I even wrote and published a book of motivation and inspiration called “Good Morning Friends.” My journey on the road to “self-love” has seen it’s share of bitter and sweet. Admittingly, some days were really good while some days were really bad but when I started being intentional with my own self-talk and staying committed on the road to loving myself as much as I loved others, my life changed. Everything we do begins with a thought, whether good, bad, or ugly…a thought about it has to occur. If we think we can’t, then we won’t but if we think we can, then we certainly will. An affirmation is the action or process of affirming something. Simply put, it is the act of repeating a positive statement until positive changes occur. These changes can be in the form of dreams realized, goals achieved or mindsets changed from negative to positive. But, the key to allowing affirmations to reshape your thinking is “repetition.”

This book of affirmations and inspirational quotes, is a tool to assist you on your quest for change. You can read it straight through and pick one to recite for the day or choose your favorites. You can go back and forth as often as you like. Whatever you decide, remember to be consistent and intentional. Use this book to support you, especially on those days when you need a little something extra. These affirmations are designed to encourage and inspire you to be the best you possible. I pray that they help you as much as they have helped me. I have seen great change in my life since the start of my “self-love” journey and so will you. Before you begin, go to your mirror, and say these three words, “I LOVE MYSELF!”