Themes from the PsycHope Self Love Audio Summit

Feb 23

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer McManus is sharing a gentle preview of the key themes that emerged from the PsycHope Self Love Audio Summit without giving too much away! You’ll hear about the meaningful insights on self-talk, mindfulness, boundaries, and self-compassion—and why you’ll want to hear these summit interviews for yourself.

Listen in for a sneak peek and then join the summit to explore these topics in depth: psychope.com/love

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You show up for everyone else—but, hey, when’s the last time you showed up for you? The PsycHope Self Love Audio Summit is a free event designed to help you nurture yourself with more self-compassion and self-care, while reconnecting with your self-worth.

Join an inspiring circle of experts from professional backgrounds in psychology, mental health, wellness, health and fitness, and spirituality.

Together, we’ll explore topics like:
Reconnecting with yourself on a deeper level;
Breaking free from people-pleasing, setting healthy boundaries;
Embracing body acceptance and confidence;
And, finding micro-moments of self-care in a hectic life.

Each interview is transformative, but we’re keeping things short and sweet so you can listen in a way that fits your busy schedule. The summit runs from February 24th through February 28th and we’d love for you to join us.

Hello and welcome! You’re listening to the PsycHope Self-Help Podcast: A space for women where psychology illuminates paths to healing, hope, and personal growth. I’m Dr. Jennifer McManus, a clinical psychologist and I’ll be your host. Each episode, we’ll explore a different way to use psychology to enhance emotional wellness. Hope you enjoy the show!

Hey everyone! It’s episode 49 and I’m so glad you’re here. Today, I have a short and sweet episode for you, where I’ll be sharing the key themes that emerged during the PsycHope Self Love Audio Summit.

Before we dive in, let me tell you a little bit about the summit. With February’s focus on love—expressing it, celebrating it, sharing it—I felt inspired to create something truly heart-centered. There’s so much emphasis on relationships with others, but what about the relationship we have with ourselves? That’s why I decided to host the PsycHope Self Love Audio Summit—a space designed to help you turn that care inward.

If you’re always showing up for everyone else, but find it hard to offer that same kindness to yourself, then this summit is for you. Inside, you’ll find insightful, heartfelt conversations with experts offering fresh perspectives on what self-love truly looks like. And one thing I really love about this summit is you can listen anytime, anywhere, in a private podcast format that fits into your life with ease.

I’d love for you to join us for the summit! To get access, just head to psychope.com/love and sign up. It’s totally free. Again that’s psychope.com/love

Now, in today’s episode, I want to give you a gentle preview of the meaningful themes that wove their way through the summit—without giving too much away. No spoilers here! Each speaker brings her own unique lens to self-love, so while I’ll be highlighting some shared threads, trust me when I say you’ll want to hear these conversations for yourself.

Alright, let’s dive in!

One of the biggest insights from this summit is the power of our inner dialogue—how we speak to ourselves truly matters as it shapes so much else. Many of our summit speakers, including Leigh Ann Lindsey, explored how the way we talk to ourselves influences our confidence, our choices, and our ability to care for ourselves in deep and meaningful ways.

A question that came up again and again was: Are we offering ourselves the same kindness we so freely give to others? So often, that answer is no.

Jessica Iturzaeta also added her voice to this conversation, showing how self-talk crosses over into action. Jess shares simple, daily micro-moments of self-love, small shifts in the ways we speak to and treat ourselves that, over time, add up in a big way.

The main takeaway for this theme is to pay attention to the words you use with yourself. Would you say the same thing to a dear friend? If not, it may be time to rewrite the script. And a beautiful part of the summit? Our speakers offer guidance on how to do just that.

Changing our thoughts to enhance self-love also involves mindfulness and awareness, another key theme from the summit. It’s about how we show up for ourselves in those small, everyday moments.

Summit speakers, including Dr. Theresa B. Skaar, wove mindfulness into the conversation, encouraging us to be more present with how we treat ourselves, how we respond to stress, and where we choose to place our energy. This isn’t about getting it perfect—it’s about creating space for self-love in the moments we so often rush through or overlook.

A key takeaway here? Notice when you’re on autopilot. Even the smallest shifts in mindfulness—pausing to take a breath, softening your inner dialogue, or simply tuning in—can create a profound difference in your self-love journey.

Boundaries and people-pleasing emerged as important themes throughout the summit, too. So many of us—especially women—have been conditioned to put others first, often at the expense of our own well-being.

Cinnamon Johnson brings a deeply spiritual perspective to this, offering a self-love blueprint to help you break free from people-pleasing and set boundaries that feel empowering. Dr. Lori Husband approaches this from a different angle—dating—showing how we can shift from performing for others to embracing authenticity. And for those navigating midlife, Lisa DuPree highlights how strength and confidence are deeply connected to the ability to set and hold boundaries with clarity and self-respect.

The key takeaway here? Loving yourself means honoring your limits. Boundaries aren’t about shutting others out—they’re about keeping yourself whole.

A final core theme that emerged from the summit was self-compassion—the practice of treating ourselves with the same kindness, patience, and care that we so easily extend to others.

Kim Bevans guided us through a beautiful, embodied practice to reconnect with our hearts—returning to what truly matters to us—and showing up for ourselves with gentleness instead of judgment. So many of our summit speakers echoed this message in their own way, reinforcing the idea that self-compassion is more than just a concept—it’s a daily practice. Because self-compassion is so foundational, I shared my own reflections on it in the summit’s farewell message.

The key takeaway here? You’re doing your best. Imagine how it would feel to offer yourself the same grace, warmth, and understanding that you naturally give to those you love. What might shift in your life if you treated yourself with that same level of care?

So, as promised, this was just a little glimpse of the meaningful themes that emerged from the PsycHope Self Love Audio Summit interviews. But remember, each speaker brings her own unique wisdom, personal stories, and strategies. So, you won’t want to miss hearing these talks directly from the speakers themselves.

If these topics resonated with you, don’t stop here—come join us for the summit and explore these conversations on a deeper level. It’s completely free and designed to fit seamlessly into your life—listen at your own pace, reflect, and take in what speaks to your heart.

I can’t wait for you to be part of the summit and experience these insightful, heart-opening conversations for yourself.

Much peace ‘til next time.

The information shared on the PsycHope Self-Help podcast is done so with the understanding that it does not constitute professional help nor is it a substitute for professional help. If you think you might benefit from more than self-help, there are resources listed in the show notes.

Show Notes

Episode 49, originally published on February 23, 2025.

To go even deeper with self-compassion and related topics join us at the PsycHope Self-Love Audio Summit! You can sign up (for free) right here: https://www.psychope.com/love

Disclaimer

The information shared on the PsycHope Self-Help podcast does not constitute professional help nor is it a substitute for professional help. If you think you might benefit from more than self-help, here are some helpful resources:

Find a therapist:

Psychology Today, directory for locating a psychotherapist. More details here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/

Mental health crisis resources:

Suicide Prevention Hotline: call or text 988

Crisis text line: text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor for any emotional crisis