I am asking the women I photograph to tell me about how they feel about themselves. Sometimes they surprise me with poems, other times they teach me the 10 steps to get there.

Here’s Nisa, amazing woman, mother to two beautiful kids, teacher and inspirer of her community. We were discussing the importance of self-love and nurturing yourself and how difficult it is sometimes to return to that after a long time of neglecting yourself. I leave you with her words of wisdom and the portraits that I did for her.

 

“Who am I ?

I am what I am and I love myself !

I’m practicing and preaching: “I am good to myself” by:

 

1- Being on ‘my side’ when no one else is

 

2- Looking for the good in every situation and taking it in

 

3- Seeing the greatness in myself, appreciating all of me

 

4- Slowing down and finding my balance in each situation

 

5- In this journey, learning to say “no” and setting boundaries in love, work or daily activities that I feel could deplete me in some way

 

6- Associating my ‘self’ with joy, doing what brings a smile to my face and meeting people who mirror that state of joy

 

7- Forgiving myself when visiting the past, thinking and addressing nice words to myself – because I’m the only one listening

 

8- Nourishing myself daily through healthy activities, good nutrition and proper sleep and trying to keep my mind in the present

 

9- Protecting my brain from negativity, bad images and hard emotions

 

10- Valuing my own beliefs and ideas, living with intention into a meaningful life that serves me and others

 

“Mirror, mirror on the wall…

 

A reflection of all these in a mirror;  Cristina’s camera. The process of capturing all the beauty of self-love was an empowering experience. Her time and knowledge transcend into this amazing picture which says – I return to love and I accept myself just as I am…. “