Self-love is one of those words that everyone knows, but few talk about how challenging it actually is to build it. Sometimes we are led to believe that it should be something simple, almost automatic, but in reality, it is a complex process, full of twists and turns, where the path is rarely linear.
Within Gestalt therapy, self-love becomes even deeper: it is the ability to accept and value oneself, recognizing one's needs, desires and feelings, and it is this careful look within that allows us what we call self-support, where we find within ourselves the strength to move forward. However, as we are relational beings, this process of self-regulation is only completed in a healthy way with heterosupport, the external support we receive from the people around us, be they friends, family or therapists, something essential especially in times of crisis or need.
In therapy, self-love goes far beyond ready-made phrases or superficial gestures; it is an exercise in courage: it involves facing our deepest pain, embracing our imperfections and learning to treat ourselves with the same kindness that we often offer to others. It is in this process that, with the necessary support, we begin to integrate what we experience, becoming increasingly in tune with our needs and being able to self-regulate more consciously.
If you have already taken that small step, even if hesitant, towards your self-love, know that it matters, after all, every step counts, no matter how small it may seem. How about starting today to look at yourself with more affection, respecting your time, your needs and recognizing that, yes, external support also has its value?
