Quite often, living in a world of social beings, we expect to receive love, guidance, faith and kindness from the people we call ours. We rely on our relationships for validation. We expect loyalty, honesty and respect from others, yet we so often forget to shower these on ourselves. It is not unusual to ponder this thought. Expectations indeed lead to disappointments but also reflect our needs and desires from others.

Through every high and low, one companion has remained with us - ourselves. Yet, in our endless search for care and approval from others, we fail to see this quiet, loyal presence. And still, when we speak of love, our own name rarely makes the list. This speaks volumes about the faulty conditioning we have absorbed from the superficial world around us - a world that guides us, protects us and delivers both blessings and challenges, but seldom encourages us to choose ourselves first. Choosing yourself is not an act of selfishness; it is an act of self-compassion - becoming your own best friend, one who is an honest critic, an explorer of inner desires, a reflective mirror, and the most loyal cheerleader in life.

While some people view being a loner as a way of fitting into society’s ‘cool’ standards, others see it as a strength -the ability to remain emotionally independent while still forming healthy emotional connections without dependence.

Children and adolescents often find it hard to truly believe in themselves. They constantly look for affirmation and validation from parents, peers, and teachers, measuring their worth by how others see them. In this process, they rarely recognize their own value or treat themselves with the same kindness and respect they expect from others.

In a world where self-criticism comes more naturally than self-love, it becomes important to build a gentle and supportive relationship with oneself. Being your own best friend does not mean being alone; it means standing by yourself through every phase of life. It means pausing, looking in the mirror, and saying: “I’ve got you.” You may not always have all the answers or the strength, but you will always have yourself - and that is a friendship worth nurturing.