Love – It’s about me
Love often comes with a set of expectations hand up I at times have felt the pressure to live up to – but what if, instead of looking outward, you turned inward and focused more on the love you give yourself?
Constantly giving to others in the name of love can be exhausting. I spent much of my life doing just that. Now, I’m turning it inward—full 360. I’m making it a goal to spend more time choosing me—stepping away from expectations and creating space for what makes me feel like HelenC. Some may call this selfish. I call it being good—to me.
Wherever you are—out of a relationship, in one, or somewhere in between—consider this: What is your gift to yourself?
Self-Love Needs Balance
You know by now—I’m all about balance. Self-love is more than a bath filled with sugar scrubs and bubbles. It’s about creating space for yourself, honouring your needs, and finding balance in a world that often pulls you in too many directions.
A few weeks ago, work became hectic. I felt the pull in different directions, with requests flying in left and right. But my body was nudging me to slow down, to take time out. So, I listened. I let the team know I wouldn’t be available on Friday. That Friday, my laptop was off, and my focus was on me.
Take a moment to recognise the love you give to yourself—not as an afterthought, but as an essential part of your well-being. This isn’t about ignoring love for others or rejecting its meaning. It’s about redefining it on your own terms.
5 Ways to Gift Yourself Balance
1. The Gift of Time
Time is one of the things we give away the most—to work, to people, to responsibilities. Today, claim some of it for yourself.
Block out an hour (or even 20 minutes) just for you. No distractions, no obligations.
Do something slow and intentional—make tea (you know how much I love tea), read, sit in silence, and observe how your body feels.
Give yourself permission to pause, without guilt.
2. The Gift of Choice
Love often comes with “shoulds”—but this time, remove the pressure and ask yourself:
What do I actually want to give back to me?
Maybe it’s going shopping and buying a ‘to me from me gift’, booking a solo dinner, or doing absolutely nothing. The point is you get to decide for yourself.
If you want to celebrate—do it in a way that feels right for you, not others.
If you don’t feel like acknowledging the day at all—that’s okay too – just kick back.
Balance comes when you allow yourself to choose, rather than conform.
3. The Gift of Saying No
Not every invitation, event, or expectation needs to be accepted.
If something doesn’t feel aligned with your needs, say no.
Protect your energy instead of spreading yourself too thin—something I was once guilty of. Always in a hurry, always running out of time. That had to stop.
Create space for things that bring you joy.
Sometimes, the best self-care isn’t adding more in—it’s removing what doesn’t serve you.
4. The Gift of Letting Go
So much of life is about comparison—what others are doing, what’s being posted on social media. And while there’s good intention, the opinions and views can become overwhelming noise.
Let go of the need to measure your experience against anyone else’s.
Let go of outdated beliefs about love, success, or happiness.
Let go of the idea that this moment has to be anything other than what you need it to be.
There’s so much peace in releasing expectations. I’m a great believer that there is balance in letting go.
5. The Gift of You
Love is often about the present moment, but what if today’s choices were a gift to your future self?
Investing in your well-being—mentally, emotionally, and physically—is an act of love.
Small habits, intentional decisions, and setting boundaries can create long-term peace.
What do you want to build for yourself—not just today, but in the months to come?
Loving yourself isn’t just about this moment. It’s about how you treat yourself over time.
Balance Is My Best Gift to Myself
Love doesn’t have to be loud and absorbed in social attention. It doesn’t have to be public, extravagant, or performed. Sometimes, the most meaningful love is quiet and steady, the kind you give to yourself in small, everyday ways.
So let go of expectations and give yourself something real: time, space, and the freedom to be exactly where you are. You will love yourself for it. I do.