This is a phrase we hear often, but I believe it’s more nuanced than that. While self-love certainly makes it easier to love and be loved in a healthy way, it’s not a strict prerequisite for feeling love. People who struggle with self-worth can and do love others deeply—parents love their children, friends care for each other, and romantic partners can form strong bonds even when one or both have unresolved struggles.
However, the quality of love we give and accept is often tied to how we feel about ourselves. When we don’t love ourselves:
We may tolerate unhealthy relationships – If we don’t believe we deserve better, we might settle for relationships that are damaging, manipulative, or one-sided.
We may love from a place of fear rather than security – Instead of loving freely, we might seek validation, cling to relationships out of fear of being alone, or constantly question whether we are “enough.”
We may struggle to receive love fully – If we don’t believe we’re worthy, we might push away love when it’s given to us, doubting sincerity or feeling unworthy of kindness and care.
On the flip side, when we cultivate self-love, we set healthier boundaries, choose partners who respect us, and allow love to be something that complements us rather than something we depend on to fill a void.
So, while love is still possible without self-love, the experience of love—both giving and receiving—is so much richer when it comes from a place of self-acceptance and inner peace.
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