Last year, we invited some of our favorite boss-babes and friends to contribute to our blog about self-love during our #ILoveMe month, and this year we're at it again! Read more about these wonderful, talented and inspiring women below and let them motivate you to write your own self-love story <3

The #ILoveMe Movement is meant to inspire you to make the whole month of February about loving and appreciating yourself! Every day at Shine Studio we try to instill positivity and self-love into our #ShineSociety members. We see each and every one of you come in and give yourself a little self love in an hour of exercise or an hour of time with your friends, and we see you walk out with a big smile on your face... even though you might be a bit more sore than when you first walked in!

We challenge you to see this month as an important part of starting the year of 2018 off right. Join us in the #ILoveMe Movement and find out what makes you feel the most whole. Pencil in time for yourself and the things that you love the most. Find time for the actions that make you feel the most healthy and happy. You deserve it, girl!

Erica Mandy, Founder & Host of theNewsWorthy
www.theNewsWorthy.com
@theNWpodcast

What do you love about yourself?
I love my desire and ability to learn new things, challenge myself in new ways and simply go after what I want. At its core, this is a curiosity about life combined with trust in myself to handle the potential good and bad of each new risk or adventure.

What is your secret to self-love?
My secret is to loving myself is understanding that nothing is forever: not our looks, not our career highs or career lows, not even life itself. This allows me to take a step back in moments of comparison or self-doubt to see the bigger picture and to decide to move forward in the most positive, loving way possible.

Another secret is, again, to take those risks and prove to myself that I can accomplish anything with the right amount of desire, hard work and patience. Even just one accomplishment can help build the confidence to accomplish something new and to overcome inevitable failures.

Gina King, Founder of My Worth Girl
www.myworthgirl.com
@myworthgirl & @gmking5

What do you love about yourself?
I love many things about myself, but I think what I love the most is my heart. My heart has been broken into pieces, crushed, and wounded, but it has never stopped loving. My heart has remained open and is resilient. I love that my heart still knows how to love deeply, completely, and unconditionally for others, animals, and myself.

What is your secret to self-love?
My secret to self-love is self-awareness. Soul searching and hard-work has led me to know who I am and what I deserve. What I deserve includes what I deserve from myself. Being self-aware has allowed me to notice what I need and when I need it. I am aware now, when I am unkind to myself, neglecting myself, or abandoning my sense of worth. This self-awareness allows me to have compassion when I am too hard or critical of myself. I can now change negative self-talk to positive self-talk and I know now what triggers the negative. Self-awareness has led me to have a much more open and honest relationship with me...and I have become my best friend. It is important that I talk to myself the way I would talk to a girl that I am mentoring or teaching, and the kind of talking is with understanding, honesty, acceptance, compassion, empathy, and kindness.

Jordan Drankoski, Dancing for Donuts
https://dancingfordonuts.com/
@dancing.for.donuts

What do you love about yourself?
I love that I am strong. I grew up as an athlete so my bigger leg and back muscles used to make me self-conscious. As I got older, I realized that these muscles were part of who I am and not only are they a symbol of my background, but they make me capable. Without them, I wouldn't be able to hang in POUND, that's for sure

What is your secret to self-love?
My secret to self-love is changing your perspective. Either you can spend your life worrying about all the things you think you need to improve upon, or you can take the time to reflect on what you already have. Perhaps there's a part of your body you dislike, but I promise that there are a million others that you DO like. You just have to focus on the positives instead of the negatives!

Nicole Foster, Founder of The Extraordinary Life Project
@nicole.leigh.foster @extraordinarylifeproject
The Extraordinary Life Project

What do you love about yourself?
I love the outlook that I have on life and my ability to be so open to all of the possibilities. When life throws me a curve ball or something unfavorable happens, I'm able to be in it, feel it and move through it while seeing what could be waiting on the other side.

What is your secret to self-love?
My secret to self-love is to stay as connected as I can to my authentic, best self. This, I believe, is the greatest act of self-love.

It's from this place that I am kind to myself and can quiet my inner critic, I make myself a priority, I am clear with my boundaries and I feel the happiest. And being in this space allows me to show up as a better mom, wife, friend and human!

Alysia Moskolis, Owner of Bar Method Studio City and Brentwood,
Founder of Move and Moxie Fitness Apparel
@moveandmoxie & @amoskolis

What do you love about yourself?
I love my ambition and ability to inspire and lead others. I’ve always loved to work and challenge myself and as an entrepreneur I wear so many hats and get the opportunity to continue to grow in so many areas. In business, marketing, sales, connecting with people and so much more. I love that I am confident and that my belief in doing my best will result in all things good. This practice helps me stay level headed, happy and operating with minimal stress. Just do your best with good and beautiful intentions and all falls into place (most of the time;)).

What is your secret to self-love?
I practice self care by doing things that make me happy and realizing when something isn’t and making proper adjustments. I work hard but also treat myself A LOT and I don’t feel bad about it (massages, facials, shopping anyone;)) I teach tons of Bar Method classes each week and I take a class every day, sometimes 2 (barre+ pop fit=) that 1 hour is for me and I do it like it’s my job. It’s a scheduled meeting I have with myself. Self care is also slowing down when I need to (I need to get better at this). I need to be outside a lot, finding movement so a walk by the beach or journaling by the ocean go a long way for me!

Tristan Coopersmith, Therapist and Founder of Life Lab
www.lifelabhb.com
@tristancoopersmith @lifelabhb

What do you love about yourself?
ALL OF ME! One of my favorite things about personal evolution is a skyrocketing sense of love and appreciation for ALL parts of me, even the parts of me that I don't particularly like in a given moment, the parts that are continuously being polished, I love. Why? Because the whole of us is here to be loved... not just bits 'n pieces. I wholeheartedly believe to continue to expand into our highest selves, we need to come from an unshakable core of self-value and self-love.

Specifically though, today, I love my courage, my rebellion and my resilience. I consider myself to be a warrior in the truest sense of the word. I love how I fearlessly leap into the scary, into the unknown, into the crazy. I love that I unapologetically rock to my own beat and even when I fall, I rise up more empowered, more intentional, more clear, more ready!

What is your secret to self-love?
For me, it's all about being conscious of how I am nourishing my thoughts. I am mindful of how I am watering my thoughts, either with love, compassion and encouragement, or with poison. This has a direct impact on my feelings and my spirit on a moment-to-moment basis. Simply, love in, love out!
And I am also highly selective about who I spend my time with... light bringers only need apply!

Rachel, CEO, Rachel's Overnight Oats
www.rachelsbrand.com
@rachelsovernightoats

What do you love about yourself?
I love that I am a dedicated person. The bond that I have with my family and friends and even people that I do business with is remarkable.

What is your secret to self-love?
The secret to self-love is reflection. Taking the time to appreciate yourself and your accomplishments is a huge part of loving yourself. Even the small things are important. It’s so meaningful to reflect on where you started and how far you’ve come. Celebrate victories along the way. Life is a journey and taking the time to reflect on past, present and future has a huge impact on personal growth. Taking time to celebrate YOU is okay!