Self-Love Stories: Monica

Meet Monica! She is a blogger and creator who shares lifestyle content related to faith, health, wellness, and more. In today’s post, she will share how having a relationship with God has impacted her self-love and changed her life.

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Monica Danielle, and I am a faith/lifestyle blogger and content creator based in Atlanta, GA. I am a wife, mom of 2 boys, assistant pastor and freelance editor. I was diagnosed with a chronic inflammatory illness in 2014. Having battled physical, mental & emotional pain for years, I decided to create a blog to encourage and uplift women in their journey to healing–something that I craved as I struggled with sickness. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, watching indie & international films, and fiddling with my acoustic guitar.

Describe an area of your life where you felt less confident and how you overcame it.

Growing up, I was made fun of quite a bit. Kids criticized my physical appearance, personality traits and personal interests. It caused me to become insecure about who I was in general and so I did a lot of hiding. I became someone I wasn’t: laughed at jokes that weren’t funny, concealed my personal preferences and interests, and talked and acted in a way that garnered acceptance. I sought after love and acceptance from men and became promiscuous. I got involved in toxic relationships which led to using drugs and alcohol to numb the pain.

After a slew of terrible decisions, I was anxious, depressed and lonely. I was completely disappointed in myself and in the person I became. One day, during the week, I randomly went to a church service. I went to the altar, and an older woman prayed for me. I released it all to God that night, and I had a real encounter with Jesus Christ. I felt the weight of my sins and the state of my life. And then I was flooded with His forgiveness and love and the hope of a new slate and bright future. That was the beginning of my self-love journey.

Knowing I am loved and wanted by God ultimately allowed me to overcome my battles with insecurity and low self-esteem. My worth comes from His love for me. God brought people into my life to show me how much He loves me. He has shown me how to have healthy relationships through mentors, counselors and healed individuals. He has blessed me with rich experiences and interactions. Times of studying His word and intimate prayer have directed me in the path of my purpose, and that is the ultimate fulfillment.

Why is self-love important, and how do you practice it in your life today?

Self-love is important because the way we see ourselves dictates the success of our relationships and accomplishments. If we don’t love ourselves, we can’t effectively love others. I practice self-love in many ways. First, I prioritize communication with God. When my relationship with Him is right, I’m at a place of peace. And when I’m at peace, I can bring peace wherever I go. Next, I definitely do a lot of self-talk. Self-love is a journey, especially for those of us that have struggled with low self-esteem. It is not a quick fix–it’s a daily battle. Every day I try to become more aware of the negative, critical thoughts that fill my mind and call them what they are: lies. Then, I replace them with the truth. I also practice gratitude, I do things that bring me joy, I press into my family, friends and community of support. And most importantly, I pursue my purpose.

What advice would you give someone who is struggling to love who they are?

If you’re struggling to love who you are, remember this: you were not born struggling to love yourself. Somewhere in your life, there was an external force or circumstance that caused you to question your worth. God created you, and He loves you. No matter what you’ve done or what you’re doing, no matter what you’ve accomplished or what you haven’t accomplished, God loves you because He created you and everything He creates is good. Everything He creates is worthy. Everything He creates has a purpose. I recommend that you press into God and get some good counseling.

How does the work you do now help build confidence in others?

I have found that I am the most confident when I am pursuing what I was born to do. So, the purpose for the work I do in the social media and blogging space is to push folks to discover and fulfill their God-given purpose. But life gets hard sometimes, and it can cause us to get discouraged and distracted from that purpose. So, I seek to motivate, uplift and encourage others (and myself!) to stay focused and finish strong.

Where can we keep up with you online?

Follow me on Instagram here and on Facebook here. Visit my “Healed Girl” blog here.