Love Thyself, First + Always was released yesterday. In honor of this momentous occasion, I’m inviting you to welcome your whole self home to a place of compassion, kindness, and grace. Give it a quick read or listen below.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the expression, “Home is where the heart is.” I see three sides to this expression. Two we’re all familiar with and one many of us have probably never pondered before.

We all know our physical home, the place we live, offers us security, and shelter when the weather is unforgiving. It’s a place of warmth and comfort. And we each have a heart, the place for love, compassion, and kindness. It too is a place of warmth and comfort. Both are familiar to you, yes?

Now, I’d like for you to consider this phrase from a different angle. Is your heart (mind and body too) a place you call home? Do you feel at peace there? Is it an inviting space? Does it offer the comfort and warmth you seek?

Many times, we give our love freely to others but not to ourselves. We consider our physical address home, but not our heart. When we don’t love ourselves first, our heart is the last place we seek refuge when we need it the most. Instead, it is a place of self-doubt, name-calling, and shame monsters.

If this strikes a chord in you, I invite you to:

• Strip away the negativity and criticism your saboteurs are feeding you.

• Unsubscribe from how you ‘should’ live your life and choose for yourself.

• Witness your darkness, the crevices you try to ignore, and examine what is there.

• Up-level your self-confidence to overcome your fears and doubts.

• Understand your values and beliefs that are a testament to your character.

• Establish and maintain clear boundaries that respect you.

• Foster a stronger connection with yourself and uncover what brings you joy.

• Live more courageously and unapologetically as your true authentic self.

• Love all of you so that you can embrace those around you as well.

This is the path back home. This coming back home to oneself, it takes loving all of you, not just the parts of you that you deem ‘good.’

In my latest book, Love Thyself, First + Always, I offer 10 guiding principles that teach you step-by-step how to welcome your whole-self home with a warm embrace. I believe you’re worthy of love. Don’t you? Purchase your copy today to start living more freely as your authentic self.