We cannot give what we do not have.

Something hit me hard during one of our mastermind sessions at @rootedsistersofficial Faith-Fueled Life Retreat a couple of weeks ago.

The scripture reads:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.”

And then:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

That second part… it gripped me.

Because as I sat in a room full of brilliant, faithful, powerhouse women, what struck me was this: very few of us truly know how to love ourselves.

And I see it all the time in my events too—people who pour out for everyone else and yet don’t know how to pour into themselves.

It’s why emotional well-being, self-love, and soul-deep self-care are not just part of my Courage is Built Here™ work—they’re where we begin.

Because we cannot give what we do not have.

If we don’t know how to love ourselves—speak kindly to ourselves, regulate our nervous systems, honor our needs—then how can we possibly love others well?

You can see it in the world around us:
The judgment. The yelling. The division. The violence.
They’re not just symptoms of hate. They’re signs of people who don’t feel loved, seen, or safe.

Hurt people really do hurt people.
And dysregulated people can’t show up with compassion.

Here’s the truth I’m leaning on:
Loving yourself isn’t selfish. It’s not indulgent. It’s not extra.
It’s living in response to how deeply loved you already are.

So here’s my question for you today:
How can you love yourself in the action of self-care today?

*pic of sunset from our last night at the retreat at bc being in total awe of every single sunrise and sunset is one of the ways I love myself well.