Self-Love Is an Inside Job: Michele Rae on Embracing Wholeness in a Divided World
What does it mean to live from love—even when the world feels divided?
In her powerful Self-Love Summit interview with coach and colleague Theresa Nutt, transformational coach Michele Rae reflected on her lifelong journey of cultivating unconditional self-love. While many of us are taught that love must be earned—through achievement, perfection, or pleasing others—Michele invites us to challenge that belief and explore what it means to be lovable simply because we exist.
Download and Listen to the full Interview here
🌀 The Shift from External Approval to Internal Belonging
Michele candidly shared how, like many, she grew up with the belief that love was conditional: tied to good behavior, success, or staying small and quiet. Over time, through parenting, personal reflection, and deep healing work, she began to shift from chasing external approval to building an inner foundation of self-worth.
“I began to open the door to discovering self-love through really deciding to grow up and leave that old belief behind.”
This internal pivot allowed her to not only become more authentic but also to reclaim her power—learning to speak up, ask for what she needed, and take radical responsibility for her own experience.
🌱 Self-Love as Collective Healing
For Michele, self-love isn’t just a personal practice—it’s a necessary step toward healing our collective wounds. In the interview, she draws a clear connection between our individual lack of self-love and the judgment, division, and polarization happening in the world today.
“What’s happening globally is a mirror. As we become more transparent about our fears, blame, and sense of lack, we also open the door to healing—together.”
When we love ourselves fully, we stop needing to project our pain onto others. We become more capable of creating just, compassionate, and sustainable communities.
🧘♀️ Practicing Self-Love in Daily Life
Michele emphasizes that self-love is built through everyday micro-choices: what we say yes to, what we say no to, how we treat our bodies, who we surround ourselves with, and how we respond when we falter. Her favorite self-love practices include:
- Writing creatively just for the joy of it
- Nourishing meals (sometimes just for herself)
- Mindful movement: yoga, cross-country skiing, and walks around the lake
- Saying no to what drains her, yes to what expands her
- Cultivating relationships that feel exuberant, supportive, and alive
- Giving herself grace and forgiveness when she’s less than graceful
“What I say no to is as much self-love as what I say yes to.”
This ongoing process is not about perfection—but about presence, awareness, and reclaiming our wholeness, shadow and all.
💬 Final Wisdom: Invite Every Part of You to the Table
One of the most beautiful metaphors Michele offers is the idea of inviting our unlovable parts to tea. Instead of pushing away the voice that says we’re not good enough, she suggests listening with compassion—then choosing not to give it voting rights in how we live our lives.
“Let your empowered self—not your fear—make the decisions.”
As we do this, moment by moment, we not only grow in love for ourselves—we become a beacon of love for others, radiating compassion, coherence, and clarity in a world that desperately needs it.