Are There Self-Love Quotes That Promote Healing And Personal Growth?

Medically reviewed by Majesty Purvis, LCMHC
Updated October 31st, 2025 by Regain Editorial Team

Key takeaways

  • Self-love is important for emotional well-being and personal growth. 
  • Self-love quotes can inspire feelings of self-compassion and self-acceptance. 
  • For more support cultivating self-love, online therapy can help. 

If your mind is often filled with doubt and self-criticism, reflecting on a collection of inspirational self-love quotes from people like Carl Jung, Buddha, and Brené Brown may help you see that you deserve the same kindness you extend to others. For further support in cultivating greater self-worth and achieving personal growth, you can connect with a compassionate therapist.

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What are some powerful self-love quotes?

Many prominent individuals have reflected on the importance of self-love. Below are several powerful quotes on the topic: 

  • "The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely." –Carl Jung
  • “It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.” –Mary Dunbar
  • “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” –Oscar Wilde
  • “As I began to love myself, I found that anguish and emotional suffering were only warning signs that I was living against my own truth.”  –Charlie Chaplin
  • "My job, my only job here in this moment, is to love myself and, by extension, to love others." –Vironika Tugaleva
  • “Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.” –Steve Jobs
  • “What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” –Henry S. Haskins

What does the quote, “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection" mean?

In the realm of self-love, there is one quote with a particularly impactful message that is attributed to the Buddha: “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

The benefits of recognizing that you, as much as anyone in the entire universe, deserve love

This quote reminds us that we must not forget to extend our love and affection to ourselves. There are many evidence-based benefits of self-love, including the following: 

  • Improved mental health 
  • Increased self-esteem 
  • Higher motivation 
  • Better sleep

Could self-love be the secret to happiness? Exploring quotes from Robert Morley, Brené Brown, and others

Another recurring theme in many quotes about self-love is the idea that loving oneself can offer the key to true happiness. This theme is explored below.

Quotes about self-love being the “secret to happiness” 

Some of the following quotes speak to the idea of self-love bringing happiness to our lives:

  • "To fall in love with yourself is the first secret to happiness." — Robert Morley
  • "Love yourself first and everything else falls into line." — Lucille Ball
  • "Loving ourselves works miracles in our lives." — Louise Hay

Self-love quotes from Brené Brown

One prominent voice on self-love is the author and researcher Brené Brown, who has researched and written extensively on shame, courage, and vulnerability. Below are a handful of quotes from Brown on the power and benefits of self-love:

  • “I now see how owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.” 
  • “Worthiness doesn't have prerequisites.” 
  • “Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.” 
  • "The truth is: Belonging starts with self-acceptance."

How can you cultivate self-love and support personal growth?

What can you do if your own process of self-love is still a work in progress? There are several strategies you can try to build greater self-love and support personal growth

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How to cultivate love and affection for yourself 

To cultivate self-love, you might try the following:

  • Recite positive affirmations
  • Practice positive self-talk
  • Set and achieve small goals to boost self-confidence 
  • Create a regular gratitude practice 
  • Try meditations geared toward self-love

It can also help to remember that self-care is not a selfish act. Taking good care of yourself can have transformative effects on your own life while also allowing you to show up more fully in your relationships with others. 

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Finding support for personal growth in online therapy

If you are having difficulty loving yourself, know that you are not the only person experiencing such challenges. For support in breaking down barriers to self-love, meeting with a licensed therapist in person or online can help. Digging into self-love often involves vulnerability, and if you would feel more comfortable discussing these concerns in your own space, online therapy may be a helpful option. 

Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of online therapy for various concerns, including self-esteem. As low self-esteem can impact relationships, you might attend couples therapy in-person or online to learn how to cultivate self-love alongside your partner.

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Takeaway

An abundance of quotes highlights the importance of self-love, emphasizing the transformative effects of loving oneself. If you are having difficulty loving yourself as you are, reflecting on the quotes included above may offer a helpful starting point. For further support, you can meet with a licensed therapist online or in your area.
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