Let us Love Ourselves

Ever since I got married, I have been living in two worlds. One world is my present reality, where I live in a home with six people and a dog. The other is my maternal home, where there were only three of us—my mother, my brother, and me. We have witnessed the darkest of times together, yet we never left each other's side. Even when my brother had to move to another city for two years, my mother and I held each other's hands and got through everything together. Now that I am married, I don't find either of them around me the way I used to. It has been a little over seven months since my marriage. I have the best husband I could have ever dreamed of, and I am deeply grateful for him. Yet, I still feel homesick. It isn't that I face any abuse from my in-laws. Nor do they make me feel like an outsider. They have always treated me with kindness. But even then, I can't fully accept my new reality. Every night before going to sleep, I find myself imagining a different lif...

Have you ever felt tired even after getting enough sleep? Not physically tired. Emotionally tired. You wake up in the morning, but your mind already feels exhausted. Small things irritate you. Conversations feel heavy. You don't feel like talking to anyone. Even replying to messages feels like work. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Many women today are walking around emotionally drained without even realizing it. What Does "Emotionally Drained" Actually Mean? Being emotionally drained doesn't always mean you're sad or depressed. Sometimes it looks like this: Constant mental exhaustion Feeling overwhelmed by small tasks Losing interest in things you once enjoyed Wanting to be alone all the time Overthinking every conversation Feeling tired even after resting The strange part is that many women continue functioning normally while feeling this way. They go to work. They take care of their families. They smile. But internally, they're running on empt...

  Welcome back to Only Self Love . If you’re reading this, I want you to take a second. Stop scrolling. Just inhale... and exhale. Today I want to talk about something so simple, yet impossibly difficult: the physical act of holding ourselves together. The image I shared above—that soft, quiet moment by the window—isn’t a pose. It’s a snapshot of a practice that saved me during one of my hardest seasons. It’s the art of the self-hug. We are so quick to offer a comforting touch to others. If a friend cries, your arm goes around their shoulder. If a partner is stressed, you rub their back. We know, instinctively, that human touch heals. It lowers cortisol; it signals safety. But when we are the ones falling apart, what do we do? Often, we tighten up. We clench our jaws. We isolate. We retreat into the cold fortress of our own anxiety. We deny ourselves the very comfort we generously give to everyone else. A few years ago, I was completely overwhelmed. My anxiety was a physical weigh...

Hey there, I’m Manveen . If you’ve been following my life lately, you know that just two months ago, I said "I do" in a beautiful, loud, and very colorful Punjabi wedding . The honeymoon phase is wonderful, but I’ll be honest with you—the transition hasn’t just been about picking out new curtains or learning how to share a closet. It’s been a whirlwind of navigating a whole new set of cultural expectations. In our Punjabi culture , marriage isn't just between two people; it’s a merger of two entire universes. And with that comes a lot of "traditional" pressure that can honestly feel a bit heavy sometimes. The Pressure to be "The Perfect Bahu" From the moment the henna faded, I felt the shift. There’s this unspoken manual on how a new bride should act—how much she should cook, how she should dress, and how she should prioritize everyone else’s needs above her own. I realized quickly that if I wasn't careful, I'd lose the "Manveen" I w...

How do I start? The day I used to only visualize and pray for is finally coming!!!  I always prayed to God to give me a partner who loves, cares, and supports me- a man who worships the ground I walk on, understands me like no one else, and is my big-time supporter. Now that I am getting married, I can say he is exactly the one I prayed for.  Even though he isn't the one I thought I wanted ( my expectations also included living in the same city as my parents ), he is the man I truly needed- the one my inner child longed for. After losing my dad at the age of seven, I never really knew what love from the opposite gender felt like- even though my younger brother has always loved me deeply. But receiving true affection, love, and protection from a kind, masculine man makes you feel on top of the world.  I can't even explain the difference it makes, girls. My nervous system feels calmer, more regulated. I am happier, more at peace, and comfortable being myself around him, kn...

Are you hitting the gym regularly and following a strict diet but still not seeing the weight loss results you desire? The problem may not be your exercise or eating habits—it could be hidden inflammation in your body. Vidya Balan, the renowned Bollywood actress, faced a similar struggle for years. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't shed the extra weight or achieve the glowing, youthful skin she wanted. That is, until she discovered the power of an anti-inflammatory diet. In this in-depth blog post, we'll dive into Vidya's personal weight loss journey and uncover the anti-inflammatory diet plan that transformed her health. By the end, you'll have the knowledge and tools to address the root cause of your own weight, skin, and hormonal issues - chronic inflammation. Vidya Balan's Weight Loss Struggle Like many women, Vidya Balan had always been health-conscious. She was a regular at the gym and followed various diet plans, but the results were always temporary. Th...