Finding Self-Love Blindfolded: Learning to See Myself Withou

For a long time, my self-worth was tied to how the world saw me. As a photographer, I captured beauty in others, but when it came to myself, I struggled to see the same light. I was constantly pouring into others—my family, my business, my community—but somewhere along the way, I forgot how to pour into myself.

I didn’t realize I had been chasing validation until I started losing pieces of myself. Whether it was through my work, motherhood, or the many roles I play, I was always searching for external proof that I was enough. But what happens when you take all of that away? When the world is quiet, and there’s no audience, do you still love yourself?

That’s when I started thinking of self-love as something I had to find blindfolded—without a mirror, without applause, without outside validation.

Unlearning to Relearn

I had to strip away everything I thought made me valuable. I had to stop looking for love in accomplishments, in productivity, in the way others saw me. Instead, I had to ask myself: Who am I when no one is watching? And is she enough?

At first, the silence was uncomfortable. I wasn’t used to sitting with myself without distractions. I had spent so much time proving myself that I didn’t know how to just be. But slowly, I started embracing the quiet. I started speaking to myself with the same kindness I show my children, my clients, my friends.

I started giving myself grace.

Trusting the Unknown

Learning to love yourself blindfolded means trusting yourself, even when you don’t have all the answers. It means understanding that your worth isn’t based on what you create, how much you accomplish, or how others see you.

For me, it looked like:

• Letting go of the guilt that came with slowing down.
• Understanding that I don’t have to be everything to everyone all the time.
• Choosing to celebrate myself, even when no one else does.
• Learning that love—real love—doesn’t have to be earned.

This wasn’t a quick fix or a one-time revelation. It’s a daily practice. Some days, I feel strong. Other days, I still hear the whispers of self-doubt. But now, I recognize that love isn’t something I have to chase. It’s already within me.

Seeing Clearly for the First Time

Ironically, the moment I stopped looking for external validation was the moment I started seeing myself clearly. When I stopped measuring my worth by outside standards, I realized I had been whole all along.

The world teaches us that love is something we have to earn. But the truth is, we are already enough. We don’t need permission to love ourselves. Sometimes, we just have to close our eyes and feel it.

And that’s exactly what I’m learning to do.