Learning to Love Myself

For the longest time, I stayed. I stayed because I thought love meant enduring. I stayed because I was afraid of what would happen if I left. Afraid of being alone, afraid of starting over, afraid that maybe—just maybe—I wasn’t enough without him.

But something inside me refused to stay small.

I started seeing the signs that were always there. The way his words chipped away at my confidence. The way his actions never matched his promises. The way I lost pieces of myself trying to be what he wanted. And one day, I realized: this wasn’t love. It was survival.

Walking away wasn’t easy. It was terrifying. I questioned myself a thousand times. But with every step forward, I found something I had forgotten—I found me.

I learned that love isn’t about proving your worth to someone who refuses to see it. Love is about honoring yourself, even when it means standing alone. I learned that I was valuable with or without him, with or without approval, with or without fear.

And if you’re reading this, I want you to know—you are, too. Whether you have children or not, whether you’re just realizing your worth or still gathering the courage to leave, you deserve a love that doesn’t require you to sacrifice yourself.

Don’t wait until you’ve lost yourself to realize your value. You are worthy now. You are enough now. And you are strong enough to choose yourself—just like I did.

A woman who knows her worth doesn’t settle for breadcrumbs of love. She doesn’t ignore the red flags or make excuses for mistreatment. She sees the signs clearly, trusts her intuition, and walks away from anything that dims her light.

✨ If he disrespects you, believe him.

✨ If he makes you feel small, you don’t belong there.

✨ If his words and actions don’t align, pay attention.

✨ If love feels like a battle, it’s not love—it’s control.

You don’t have to prove your worth to someone who refuses to see it. Love yourself enough to walk away from anything that doesn’t nourish your soul. You deserve better.