March 2021, I bought myself a ring. A promise to commit to this journey

The first self-love book I bought.

The Philautia Project was born from a personal journey inward.

Growing up, I did not experience major trauma, but like many people, my teenage years were shaped by experiences of betrayal, insecurity, social anxiety, and the pressure to adjust to different environments. Over time, these experiences affected the way I saw myself and how I related to others. I struggled with low self-esteem, anxiety, and an unhealthy relationship with myself, often seeking validation from the outside instead of finding security within.

For a long time, I told myself that I needed to “prioritize myself,” yet I found it difficult to be alone, to say no, or to truly face my own thoughts. I realized that the way I behaved, reacted, and formed relationships was deeply influenced by what I was going through internally.

Eventually, I reached a point in my life where I felt emotionally drained and pushed to my limits. That moment became a turning point. It forced me to look within and begin the work I had been avoiding for years. As the saying goes, “When you hit rock bottom, there is nowhere to go but up.”

In 2021, I made a conscious decision to choose myself.

I committed to taking care of my well-being — physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. That was the beginning of my self-love journey.

I started reading books, writing reflections, exploring psychological concepts, listening to podcasts, and learning from different sources that helped me understand myself better. Through time, effort, and honest introspection, I slowly built the kind of self-relationship I had always longed for.

After years of doing the inner work, I experienced a sense of grounding and stability I never had before. I learned that self-love is not a single moment, but a continuous process that gives you an inner anchor — something that makes you feel secure, whole, and at peace with yourself.

The Philautia Project was created to share that journey with others.

Its goal is to encourage people to look within, to understand themselves more deeply, and to realize that change is possible through awareness, effort, and intention.

Through this project, I share insights, reflections, habits, and psychological concepts that can help you

become more self-aware,

work on yourself,

and learn to accept yourself as you grow.

Because self-love is not just a feeling —

it is a lifelong practice.