Why I Love Me (And You Might Too)

What a journal prompt revealed

Recently, I came across a journal prompt that piqued my interest, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The journal prompt was posted by

Jolie Doggett

and it asked, “What makes you lovable? What do you love about yourself, and why should others love you back?” Simple enough, right? But as soon as I tried to answer it, I realized something—I didn’t exactly know where to start.

I think a lot of us, myself included, have been conditioned to focus on what we can improve, on our flaws, on the things we think we need to “fix” about ourselves. So, when faced with the question of what I love about me, I paused. My mind instantly went to all the things I don’t love about myself. But after sitting with the prompt for a while, I realized the point wasn’t to focus on what I need to change—it was to focus on what I already have, what’s already lovable. So, I decided to do the work and dive deeper, and it became one of the most interesting reflections I’ve had in a long time. It made me sit with the parts of me I don’t usually talk about or give enough credit to, and in doing so, I learned to embrace them.

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One of the first things I love about myself, and this might surprise some people, is that I cry easily. I get emotional about the smallest things—whether I’m witnessing something joyful, sad, or even just a quiet moment that feels real. For a long time, I thought my sensitivity was a weakness. I was that person who would tear up during a touching commercial or a kind word from a stranger, and I used to be embarrassed by it. But now, I see it differently. I see it as a strength.

When I cry, it means I’m fully connected to the moment, that I’m not numb to what’s happening around me. I feel things deeply, and I love that about myself. I think the world needs more people who are unafraid to feel. It shows that I care, that I’m paying attention, and that I’m willing to be vulnerable. And interestingly enough, I’ve noticed that when I’m open with my emotions, it gives other people permission to be open with theirs. I’ve been told I make people feel safe, like they can be themselves around me without judgment, and I think that has a lot to do with how transparent I am with my own feelings. When I’m sad, you’ll see it. When I’m happy, you’ll feel it. I don’t hide how I’m feeling, and I think people love me for that because they know they’re getting the real me—no walls, no pretending.

Another thing I love about myself is how I physically feel my emotions. When I’m excited or happy, it’s not just a smile on my face—it’s like my whole body gets involved. I’ll get goosebumps, or my heart will race, and sometimes, I can feel this wave of joy or excitement wash over me. It’s such a visceral, full-body experience. I remember just the other day at work, a colleague of mine walked in wearing this beautiful yellow blouse, and she looked so radiant. I told her she looked like sunshine, and I wasn’t just saying that to be nice—seeing her literally made me feel happy. I got goosebumps just from that small, simple moment. And that’s something I genuinely love about myself: that I can find joy in these little things and that my happiness isn’t just internal, it shows up physically. I think it makes me more relatable and real because when I say I’m excited, people believe it. They can see it, and it’s contagious. I think that’s one of the things people love about me too—when I’m happy, it’s hard not to feel happy with me.

Now, something else that I don’t always talk about, but that I really appreciate about myself, is how I show up for people—especially my friends. Sure, we can go out for drinks, catch up over dinner, or spend time together laughing and joking around, but I try to be present for them in more meaningful ways too. Like, I’m the friend who says, “Hey, send me your kid’s baseball/football schedule—I’d love to come watch one of their games.” I want to be there for the moments that matter to them, not just the ones that are convenient for me. And while I don’t always hear it back, I know my friends appreciate that. They see the effort and the time I take to show up for them in all parts of their lives, not just in our friendship. I love that I’m the kind of person who shows up for people in ways that matter, and I think that’s something others love about me too. It’s not about grand gestures, it’s about the small, consistent acts of care that let people know they’re valued.

Another thing I’ve come to love about myself, and this is something that has taken time and reflection, is that I’m committed to doing the inner work. I’m always trying to be a better version of myself. I’m constantly reflecting, looking inward, and asking myself how I can grow. I don’t just want to be a good person—I want to become a better one every day. And that requires introspection and self-awareness, two things I think I’ve gotten pretty good at over the years. I’m someone who takes inventory of the experiences I go through, and I always ask myself, “What can I learn from this? How can I improve?” It’s not always easy, and there are definitely moments when I have to confront things about myself that aren’t comfortable, but I think that’s where real growth happens. I love that I’m willing to sit with the uncomfortable truths about myself and do the work to change, not just for others, but for me.

I think people see that in me too—the effort and the intention behind my actions. I don’t want to be someone who just coasts through life; I want to be someone who is constantly evolving. I love that about myself, and I think it makes me lovable too because it shows I’m always striving to be better, more present, more thoughtful.

And you know… it’s funny, as I reflected on this journal prompt, I realized that most of what I love about myself has nothing to do with my appearance. That’s not where my mind went first. Instead, I started thinking about all the things that make up who I am—my heart, my emotions, the way I love and care for the people around me. It’s the parts of me that you can’t see but that you can feel. I think that’s what really makes someone lovable—it’s how they make others feel, how they show up, how they care. And when I think about what I love about myself, it’s all of those things.

So, to answer the question: What makes me lovable? It’s everything. It’s the way I feel deeply and show those feelings to the world. It’s my quirks, my affection, my sincerity. It’s the way I show up for people, not just in the easy moments, but in the important ones. And it’s my willingness to always do the work, to always strive to be better, for myself and for the people around me. That’s what makes me lovable, and that’s what I love about me.

XO