Self-Love for Teens/Pre-teens

“Self-love,” as a hashtag in general, can seem like something silly and airy and insignificant. Yet it's something that can be learned in order to increase one's level of confidence and resilience and emotional equilibrium in a daily way. This can be helpful during the adolescent and young adult years when things move quickly and the stakes seem high.

What is Self Love? 

Essentially, self-love is about taking care of oneself in the same gentle, kind, and respectful manner as you would your very best friend. In fact, it is anything but selfish. Instead, it is rather more essential to good mental health. Self-love encompasses notions of self-respect, self-esteem,self-compassion. It is about showing up when the going gets tough.

Self-compassion is also known as a big component of self-love because instead of criticizing yourself when you make errors, you treat yourself with kindness when you make errors. Recognize that everyone makes some errors, including yourself, because you also need care, especially when you are going through tough times.

Why Self-Love Matters for Young People

Being young often means navigating big emotions,finding your identity, school and social pressure, comparisons, and managing relationships. Here’s how self-love helps: 

• Builds Confidence- When you treat yourself with respect and kindness, it becomes easier to believe in yourself and your abilities even when things don’t go your way. 

• Strengthens Resilience- Self-love helps you handle setbacks — like a bad grade or a tough conversation — with less self-blame and more perspective.

• Improves Emotional Well-Being- Self-compassion and self-love are linked to less anxiety and stress and better emotional health.

How to Practice Self-Love:

1. Talk to Yourself Like You Would a Friend

When you’re being harsh to yourself (“I failed at this, I’m worthless”)  try reframing it: “I did my best here. I can learn from this.” Practicing positive self-talk helps reduce negative inner criticism.

2. Set Healthy Boundaries

Self-love means knowing what drains you and what nourishes you. Saying no to things that hurt your mental health is a form of self-respect.

3. Create a Self-Care Routine

Taking care of your physical and emotional health  like getting enough sleep, moving your body, or taking time to relax.

4. Be Kind to Yourself on Hard Days

Some days will be harder than others. Self-love means allowing yourself to feel your emotions without judgment and reminding yourself that growth takes time.

5. Practice Gratitude and Reflection

Keeping a small journal of things you appreciate about yourself — like your creativity, your resilience, or your kindness — can strengthen your self-worth over time. 

Self-Love is a Habit

Self-love isn’t something that comes fast, it takes time.  It’s a practice you build one day at a time. Some days you’ll do better than others, and that’s okay,  self-love is about being gentle and honest with yourself. Treat yourself with the same kindness you’d offer someone you truly care about because your well-being matters. YOU MATTER!

Keerthi Virupakshi, Bentonville, AR, 9th grade, instagram: @keerthivirupakshi 

Works Cited 

Building Self-Love: Small Steps for Mental Health & ..., councilforrelationships.org/maintaining-self-love-while-dealing-with-a-mental-illness/. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.

How to Practice Self-Love: 6 Expert Tips – Forbes Health, www.forbes.com/health/mind/how-to-practice-self-love/. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.

Self-Compassion: Pre-Teens and Teenagers, raisingchildren.net.au/teens/mental-health-physical-health/about-mental-health/self-compassion-teenagers. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.

“Self-Love: How to Love Yourself.” Charlie Health, 13 Feb. 2025, www.charliehealth.com/mental-health/depression/how-to-love-yourself.

User, Guest. “Encouraging Self-Love and Positive Self-Talk in Teens - Institute of Pediatric Psychology: Child and Teen Psychologist: Orange County, C.” Institute of Pediatric Psychology, Institute of Pediatric Psychology, 4 Aug. 2025, www.pediatricpsychology.org/blog/encouraging-self-love-and-positive-self-talk-in-teens.

“What Is Self-Love and How to Practice It.” Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, 9 Feb. 2024, health.clevelandclinic.org/self-love.

Yant, Amelia. “Why Self-Love Is so Important for Teens.” Personal Excellence Foundation, Personal Excellence Foundation, 13 July 2023, personalexcellence.org/raising-worldchangers-blog/why-self-love-is-so-important-for-teens.