Back at university, I knew this one guy who was always upbeat and effortlessly made the best out of everything that came his way. Throughout all the time I spent with him, not once did I hear him grumble about anything. He was incredibly easygoing and a joy to be around. He showed respect to everyone but also knew how to hold his ground when necessary.

I often found myself curious about what set him apart. Individuals with his kind of energy seemed to attract others effortlessly, making people want to be near them. In time, I noticed that he never counted on anyone for anything. He didn't attempt to blend in or seek approval from others. Instead, he was perfectly content being alone and distinguishing himself in a sea of faces. No one could hold him back from pursuing whatever he desired, as he refused to let anyone influence him that deeply.

That’s when it dawned on me what set him apart. He loved himself. Immensely. He always trusted his instincts, which made some people feel disconnected, whereas I found myself admiring him. Individuals like him are constantly evolving and growing. They face the same struggles as everyone else, but their profound self-love keeps it from being apparent.

Many of us tend to link our self-esteem to the approval we get from those around us. Though we might not want to admit it, the desire to be valued and accepted is strong, as it helps us avoid loneliness, even if it's just an illusion. But that's the paradox—when we stop seeking others' approval, they often start paying more attention to us. By learning to love ourselves a bit more each day, we gradually liberate ourselves from the need for constant external validation.

Picture a lush garden within the confines of your soul, where the flowers of self-appreciation flourish in vivid hues. As you nurture this garden, the sweet scent of self-love captivates your senses and adds joy to your day. You begin to question why you ever wanted to claim someone else's garden as your own, when all it took was to water your own flowers and give them time to blossom. The more abundant your garden becomes, the less you crave external validation or approval.

It’s liberating when we start to love ourselves more. As we embrace the new phases of life, we transform into whole and fulfilled individuals. This self-acceptance allows us to love others in a genuine and complete way since we feel at ease with our true selves and our actions. Such self-love is undeniably appealing. Using Gen Z slang, you'd be giving off great energy. And honestly, who wouldn't love that, right?

However, achieving this can be quite challenging since we often criticize ourselves the most. We live in a world filled with expectations, judgments, and comparisons that are hard to escape. Despite these obstacles, learning to love ourselves more is still possible.

It’s a journey toward achieving self-sufficiency, one that requires patience and time. We need to learn how to align our thoughts with our inner desires, which naturally arise from within us. With consistent discipline and genuine enthusiasm, we must nurture our growth, no matter the circumstances of our current life.

In my opinion, it's crucial to embrace self-love even more during the good times, so we stay connected to our true selves.

If you want my opinion, I believe it’s crucial to love ourselves even more during the good times. This helps ensure we stay connected to our true selves.

There are moments when we second-guess our choices and feel unsure about where we're headed. But over time, we begin to uncover what defines us. As we delve deeper into our idiosyncrasies and imperfections, we recognize that we don’t need a standing ovation to feel complete. The most fulfilling applause is the one that resonates from within.

Embracing self-love does not mean closing ourselves off from others; it's about engaging with them from a place of genuine self-acceptance. The people around us are like the supporting characters in our life's story, and the approval from others is less important.

Ultimately, the most significant feedback is from the reflection you see in the mirror.