28 Days of Self-Love Challenge
The Challenge
“We have so much coming in as sisters, when is our interior life ever put at the forefront? We constantly want to give to other people ... Too much of not caring for yourself is not a good thing. We’re bad at that as achievers. Self-care is a priority and we have to do it more.” - Ava DuVernay
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February is here! It's the month of love, Black history, and heart health awareness. This month we are kicking off our 28 Days of Self-Love Challenge to encourage women to step fully into loving themselves more each day. The challenge will be a simple exercise each day that will take you no more than 15 minutes to complete! Are you up for the challenge!? Check out our latest exercises below, and let us know how you are progressing on your journey!​​
Day 21
Are you getting the love you truly desire from those closest to you? If not, then let’s reflect on that in today’s exercise. Grab your journal and reflect on the following prompt: how do your closest relationships mirror the love you give yourself? If it isn’t what you want it to be, then how can you begin to change it? The love you deserve starts with you. So, how will you show up for yourself today?
It Starts With You
Day 20
"I was built this way for a reason, so I’m going to use it." - Simone Biles
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Instead of comparing yourself to others, celebrate your gifts and use them to their fullest potential. Confidence comes from owning who you are and trusting that you have everything you need to shine.
Divine Design
Day 19
Part of loving yourself better is taking care of your body! Evaluate your current fitness routine and how you can get your body moving more often. Research potential exercises or activities (like dancing!), pick one that you may enjoy, and set a time to incorporate it into your schedule this week!
Move Ya Body
Day 18
Today's exercise is giving main character energy. As women, we easily fall into patterns of neglecting ourselves to nurture and care for others. This is our superpower to help our families and communities thrive. Give yourself permission to save a little room to love yourself too. Take out your journal and reflect on the following to help improve this behavior:
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What are some of your unhealthy patterns that have led to you deprioritizing your needs?
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Why have you followed these patterns?
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Why do you want to change them?
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What is one action you can take today to move in a healthier direction?
Permission to Prioritize
Day 17
Pick an activity that you enjoy—something that feels indulgent and unique to you. Maybe it’s an at-home spa night, a solo dinner date at a restaurant you enjoy, or a peaceful yoga session. It's up to you! Be intentional, block a time when you're available, and honor it just like you would any other date. Enjoy!
Plan a Date Night
Day 16
When seeking love or looking to love yourself better, remember the ways it has been defined biblically in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8...Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
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Real love isn't a mystery - God's Word lays it out! 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 shows what true love looks like, and you deserve nothing less. Make sure you're not just receiving it, but also giving it to yourself! It's so important!
Love Defined
Day 15
I hope you're still vibin' to that amazing playlist that you made! Today it's your time to shine! Find your favorite track and sing it out loud to yourself (bonus points if you do it in front of a mirror!). It might feel a bit awkward, but trust me, it's all about having fun and letting go!
A Serenade for You
Day 14
Love Notes
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples—it’s a day to celebrate all love, including self-love! Write a love letter to yourself. What do you love about yourself? How do you love to be loved? Just have fun with it! You deserve all the love, today and always.
Day 13
Vision of Love
Were you inspired by your love songs yesterday? We hope so! Now it's time to create a vision for what self-love looks like for YOU! Create a bold vision statement for how you will embrace self-love like never before. How will you show up for yourself? Why do you deserve it? Dream big, be unapologetic, and declare your commitment to YOU!
Day 12
A List of Love
Invite love into the atmosphere today by playing your favorite love songs. Create a playlist of your favorite love and empowerment songs. You can create two separate lists if you'd like! Listen to it for the rest of the day. If you don't have time, then find a list on your favorite streaming platform.
Day 11
Is Love on the Menu?
Make the decision to remove yourself from spaces, relationships, friendships, etc. where you are not being properly loved or valued. Yes, it is hard to start over...but can you afford not to?
Day 10
Spread Love Out Loud
Take a moment to reach out to someone you love—whether it’s a friend, family member, or significant other. Let them know that you love them. A simple message can make their day (and yours too!).
Day 9
Today's exercise will prepare you to have a few Bible verses in your arsenal when you're struggling to feel loved. God loves you even on your worst days, so you should love you too. If you need a jumpstart, start with the verses below:
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John 3:16 NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
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Psalms 139:14 NIV
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God's Timeless Love
Day 8
The Wo(man) in the
Mirror
Let's practice the Mirror Rule today! Stand in front of a mirror and truly look yourself in the eye—not just the quick glance that you do before heading out for the day. Take a moment, be present, and then say, "I love you." It might feel unfamiliar at first, but this simple act of self-affirmation can be incredibly powerful. Give yourself the love and kindness you deserve!
Day 7
Attitude of Gratitude
TGIF! What else are you thankful for? It can be so easy to compare and we know comparison can be the thief of joy. Take a moment to appreciate what is going well in your life. Comparison followed by self-hatred can sometimes creep in when you forget to be grateful for even the smallest things. Consider five things that you are grateful for in your life today. Write them down!
Day 6
Breathe to Believe
Today you will get a 2-for-1! Box breathing not only helps you to relax and reduce stress, but also can help with your mental focus and clarity. Let's use this to our advantage today by focusing on goals that you would like to accomplish. It's time to release self-doubt and believe you can achieve!
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Inhale – 4 seconds – Focus on your goal. Visualize and focus on a goal you want to accomplish as you inhale for 4 seconds.
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Hold – 4 seconds – Acknowledge any doubts. Think of all the reasons why you think you can’t accomplish this goal, including reasons others have told you, while holding for 4 seconds.
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Exhale – 4 seconds – Let go of self-doubt. Release all of your self-doubt while exhaling for 4 seconds.
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Hold – 4 seconds – Visualize ways to succeed. Hold 4 four seconds while considering all of your strengths and qualities that will allow you to accomplish your goal.
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Repeat for 5 minutes.
Day 5
Rewrite the Narrative
The "sticks and stones" saying only goes so far. Words hurt and are sometimes internalized. Sometimes, we are operating from places of self-hatred, negativity, and unforgiveness from falsehoods that were said to us by others. It's time to release! Spend some time today unearthing the lies that have been said to you or about you and replace them with the truth. Finally, write a statement of forgiveness to the person who said it. This will start the healing process.
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Steps:
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Write 5 or more false statements that others have said or projected onto you.
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For each false statement, write a truthful rebuttal.
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For each false statement, write a statement of forgiveness.
Day 4
Write It, Believe It
Let's get into the habit of choosing nice words to say to ourselves! Today, I challenge you to create 5 affirmations to say to yourself daily for the remainder of the challenge. For inspiration, consider reinforcing positive qualities that you know to be true about yourself or what and who you aspire to be. Still struggling? Start with these five affirmations:
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1. I am worthy of love and respect.
2. I release the need for outside validation.
3. I set boundaries with confidence because I deserve healthy relationships.
4. I let go of comparisons and embrace my unique journey.
5. I speak to myself with the same kindness I give to others.
Day 3
Honor Your Love
Language
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman provides a valuable way to understand how you give and receive love. Today, I challenge you to find one way to honor your primary love language. For example, if your love language is Quality Time, then try carving out time today to unplug and spend time with yourself doing something that you enjoy (e.g. watching a movie, preparing your favorite meal, etc.). Unsure of your Love Language? No problem! This site can help!
Day 2
God's Love in Action
God shows His love to us every day - whether we are paying attention or not. One way to identify what love is and how to properly love yourself is to look at all of the ways that God loves you. This evening, close your eyes and spend 5 minutes reflecting on your day. How has God expressed His love to you today? ​ Write it down!​
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Day 1
Unleash Your Potential
As you go about your day, take a moment to notice the small ways you push yourself beyond your comfort zone—and the moments when you might be holding yourself back. Pay attention to your daily tasks, the challenges you embrace, and the limits you place on yourself. Then, at the end of the day, set aside 10-15 minutes to reflect and journal using these simple steps. It’s a small commitment, but one that can bring big insights into your growth and mindset!
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Step 1: Write down things you think you did well today.
Step 2: Write down things you think you wish you had done or done better.
Step 3: Write down all the qualities that you have that equip you to accomplish the things listed in step 2.
Step 4: Write (or say out loud) how you are grateful for the amazing qualities listed in step 3. For example, "I am grateful that I [insert quality]."​
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Are you up for the challenge? Tell us about your journey!
Questions
Who can join the challenge?
Anyone can join! We welcome anyone who is looking to grow in self-love.
How can I join?
Simply follow our IG page @sereneblackgirl or visit our website to learn more about the challenge each day.
When does it start?
Our challenge begins on February 1st! However, you are welcome to join at your convenience—just be sure to get started!