Choose YOU!
How to practice self-love is giving yourself permission to choose you. The moment you start choosing yourself after a lifetime of pleasing others, some people will push back. That’s not a sign to stop — it’s proof you’re finally growing. Not everyone will understand your need for space — and that’s okay. Your job isn’t to explain, it’s to protect your peace and stand in your power. That is often a difficult choice to make. But please know that prioritizing yourself is not a betrayal of others, it’s a valuing of you.
How to Practice Self-Love? Choose YOU.
Choosing YOU is an Esteemable Act. Consider the following as ways to practice self-love. Setting boundaries to protect your time, energy, and emotional well-being is a powerful act of self-leadership. It doesn’t mean you don’t care about others — it means you finally care about yourself, too.” That’s a principle worth applying across all areas of your life. Download your Family & Friends Worksheet and get ready to Choose YOU …
In your health:
- Taking a full lunch break — without multitasking.
- Leaving social situations when your body feels overwhelmed.
- Rescheduling commitments when you need recovery time.
In your finances:
- Declining to split a bill that exceeds what you actually ordered.
- Pressing pause on subscriptions, services, or spending habits that aren’t aligned.
- Choosing financial goals that reflect your values, not outside pressure.
In your service or spiritual life:
- Saying no to requests that overextend you.
- Honoring your sabbath or day of rest.
- Taking time to reconnect with what you believe.
In business or home:
- Blocking off calendar time for uninterrupted focus.
- Creating a “quiet hour” at home.
- Refusing projects that conflict with your priorities.
You’re not selfish for taking care of yourself — you’re responsible.
Self-Reflection Q&A: Consider sitting with these questions and journaling your honest responses.
- In what area of life am I most reluctant to choose myself?
- Who taught me that putting myself first was wrong?
- Where do I need more space or silence?
- What priority of mine has been pushed aside?
- What does choosing me look like?
This blog is part of theEsteemable Acts® Vision and Values series. If you’d like a framework for getting clearer on what matters to you, start with our foundational worksheet. Page 9 invites you to write or revisit your personal vision statement: Vision and Values Worksheet
Boundaries in Your Professional Life
Sometimes, choosing you professionally means being intentional about who you work with — and how.
As a consultant, I’ve helped clients define their life goals and map a path toward them. I support creative entrepreneurs in avoiding scope creep by building clear, respectful deliverables into their contracts. As a lawyer, I guide clients in aligning their estate plans with what truly matters to them.
These aren’t just legal or strategic actions — they’re Esteemable Acts. And, each one is a reminder that protecting your values is not just possible — it’s powerful.
To learn more, visit FrancineWard.com.
Next week, we’ll have our final blog in the Family & Friends section of the Vision and Values Series. We then start the third quarter exploring Health and Finance themes.
Francine D. Ward
Attorney-at-Law, Author, Speaker
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Don’t miss Francine’s Latest Blogs:
- Financial FreedomFINANCIAL FREEDOM. This quarter we are looking at health and finances. Don’t forget to download your Health and Finance Worksheet as part of the Esteemable Acts® Vision and Values series.… Read more: Financial Freedom
- Does your phone own you?Does your phone own you? First mine didn’t, then it did, and now I am working to take back my power by protecting my boundaries. I was raised back in the day… Read more: Does your phone own you?
- How to practice self-loveChoose YOU! How to practice self-love is giving yourself permission to choose you. The moment you start choosing yourself after a lifetime of pleasing others, some people will push back.… Read more: How to practice self-love
- BoundariesHow to set boundaries. Boundaries are at the core of how you show up in your relationships. Most of us have been taught that to say “NO” is an act… Read more: Boundaries
- Love is an ActionLove IS an Action. Love is an Action.How often do we say, “I love you,” “I love my friends,” or “Family is the most important thing in my life”? And… Read more: Love is an Action