The Importance of Self-Love, Self-Respect, and Forgiving Ourselves: A Journey to Being at Home With Ourselves

As women in our 50s and 60s life has taught us many lessons—some joyful, others heartbreaking. We’ve navigated careers, relationships, motherhood, and loss. We’ve seen ourselves reflected in the eyes of others, sometimes with pride, sometimes with regret. Now, in this stage of life, the most profound lesson we face is this: learning to truly love and respect ourselves, and to forgive ourselves for our mistakes.

This blog is inspired by Miranda Hart’s ' I Haven't Been Entirely Honest With You", a book that touches on the themes of self-discovery, acceptance, and truth. Miranda’s vulnerability and humour remind us that even in our imperfections, we are worthy of love—especially our own.

Learning to Love Ourselves Just as We Are

Self-love isn’t about vanity or selfishness; it’s about honouring who we are at our core. It’s about looking in the mirror and saying, “I see you, and you’re enough.” But for many of us, this hasn’t always come easily.

We’ve spent years striving to meet expectations—society’s, family’s, and even our own. We’ve told ourselves we need to achieve more, weigh less, look better, earn more, and do it all with a smile. But what if we let go of those expectations? What if we decided, right now, to embrace who we are—grey hairs, wrinkles, quirks, mistakes, and all?

True self-love is about being at home in our own skin. It’s about finding peace in the stillness, joy in the simple things, and pride in the life we’ve built, however imperfect it may seem.

The Power of Self-Respect

Hand in hand with self-love is self-respect. Respecting ourselves means setting boundaries, saying no when we need to, and valuing our time, energy, and emotions. It means not settling for less than we deserve, whether in relationships, work, or how we allow others to treat us.

Self-respect is also about how we treat ourselves. Do we speak to ourselves with kindness, or do we criticise every mistake? Do we give ourselves grace, or do we dwell on the past?

As women, we’ve often been taught to put others first, but self-respect reminds us that we are just as important as those we care for. By respecting ourselves, we teach others how to treat us and create space for healthier, more fulfilling relationships.

Forgiving Ourselves for Our Mistakes

Every woman has a story, and every story includes mistakes. Perhaps we’ve stayed in the wrong relationship, made choices we regret, or spoken words we wish we could take back. But holding onto guilt and shame only keeps us stuck.

Forgiving ourselves is one of the greatest acts of self-love. It’s acknowledging that we’ve done our best with the tools we had at the time. It’s choosing to let go of the past and move forward with compassion for the person we were and the person we are becoming.

Mistakes don’t define us. They teach us. They shape us. And forgiving ourselves allows us to embrace those lessons without carrying the weight of regret.

Being at Home With Ourselves

The beauty of this stage in life is the opportunity to finally come home—to ourselves. To stop chasing what we think we “should” be and start embracing who we are. To find joy in the quiet moments, pride in our resilience, and love in our reflection.

Being at home with ourselves means creating a life that feels aligned with our values and desires. For some, it’s a life of peace and simplicity. For others, it’s one of adventure and reinvention. There’s no right or wrong way to do this—only the way that feels true to you.

Coming Home

As we grow older, let’s make a pact with ourselves and each other:

• To love ourselves as we are, without condition.

• To respect our boundaries, needs, and dreams.

• To forgive ourselves for the past and focus on the present.

Let’s honour the women we’ve become—strong, wise, and beautiful in ways that go far beyond the surface. Let’s create lives that feel authentic and fulfilling, not because we’ve achieved perfection, but because we’ve embraced our humanity.

In the words of Miranda Hart:

“It’s okay to feel lost sometimes. It’s okay to make mistakes. And it’s always okay to start again.”

So, here’s to starting again, loving ourselves, and finding our way home.

You are enough. Just as you are.