Love, Self-Worth, and the Art of Being Enough: A Tsukimi Guide to Self-Care

Let’s talk about love. Not just the heart-fluttering, storybook kind, but the type of love that sneaks into the quieter spaces of our lives: love for ourselves, love for the small, ordinary things, and the gentle love we extend to others. Love can be as light as a passing smile or as deep as a soul connection. In Japanese culture, love—愛 (ai)—carries layers, much like the changing seasons, rich with the ebb and flow of affection and understanding. It’s both personal and universal, beautiful yet complex.

You might already know the feeling: sometimes, “love” brings a cozy, warm glow. Other times, it stirs up an ache, a reminder of something (or someone) we long for. Love, in any form, is rarely static—it evolves. It connects us, not just to others but to ourselves. Japanese culture celebrates this interwoven nature of love and self through the idea of harmony (和, wa), balancing our connections with ourselves and the world.

Let’s dispel a myth: the idea that you must “love yourself first” to be worthy of love from others. Love, as we know, comes in many forms—like a mother’s unconditional devotion, the bittersweet pangs of unrequited affection, or the loyal comfort of a close friend. Sometimes, love shows up when we’re least ready for it, but it finds us all the same. True love, in any shape, doesn’t demand perfection. Rather, it’s about understanding who we are, learning to appreciate our quirks, and embracing what makes us, well, us.

But what does self-love really look like? Here’s where Tsukimi Wellness comes in, and no, it’s not just a lineup of spa rituals or beauty routines (although, who doesn’t love a good candlelit bath or a cup of herbal tea?). Self-love is more than face masks or cozy loungewear. It’s a mindset—a quiet confidence that grows when we start to believe that we are enough. It’s valuing our experiences, celebrating our strengths, and even accepting our flaws. And yes, it’s about finding those tiny rituals that remind us to pause, reflect, and cherish our own company.

Imagine this: you look in the mirror, and instead of zoning in on what you wish was different, you see a person worth celebrating. The Japanese art of Kintsugi (金継ぎ) comes to mind here. When pottery breaks, artisans mend the cracks with gold, turning the flaw into part of its unique story. Self-love asks us to do the same—to see our imperfections as places where we shine even brighter, our experiences mending us into something beautifully whole.

Of course, love, in all its forms, takes work. Sometimes it feels as if we need to reach some elusive state of “being whole” to really give or receive love. But if there’s one thing life teaches us, it’s that we’re always evolving. Love doesn’t wait for us to be perfect; it grows with us, through every stumble and every triumph. And it’s this acceptance of our own humanity—the wabi-sabi of life’s imperfection—that makes us open to truly loving and being loved.

So, how do we invite more love into our lives? Start with kindness—toward ourselves. Think of the small ways we’re hard on ourselves and flip the script. When we catch ourselves criticizing or comparing, we can stop, breathe, and say, “I’m enough, just as I am.” If we’d never say something unkind to a friend, why say it to ourselves?

Self-care is more than just taking time for pampering. It’s about nurturing a relationship with ourselves that runs deeper than appearances. Tsukimi is about the beauty of balance, the art of creating space to honor our unique journey. And as we fill our lives with these mindful moments, we begin to see our own beauty reflected back—a beauty that’s entirely ours, built from self-compassion and the quiet resilience of being true to ourselves.

In the end, self-love, love for others, and being loved form a gentle triangle, each side supporting the other. It’s a love story where you are both the author and the hero. So, as you navigate your path, remember to embrace your story—each chapter, each line, each crack filled with golden light. And in that acceptance, you’ll find love blossoming in the most unexpected places.