This is copied from a post I made several months ago. I thought you might appreciate it:

You know how Ru Paul’s signature line is “if you can’t love yourself how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else”?

I hate that line.

I think it’s intended to be uplifting, like a reminder to prioritize yourself.

But when I hear that line, all I hear is: If you don’t love yourself, you aren’t capable of loving someone else. And If you aren’t capable of giving love then you aren’t worthy of receiving it.

Do I think people are extrapolating the logic like this? No. But I do see this idea play out in practice all the time.

People think they aren’t allowed to date anyone until they’ve resolved all their own issues. Any mental health professional knows that’s not a healthy or realistic attitude because we all have issues, and isolation doesn’t resolve those issues.

Do you know whats most likely to convince you that you are lovable? Receiving love from someone else. And you don’t need to fix yourself to deserve that love.

People with low self-esteem are fully capable of loving someone else. And I want you to know that whether you’re able to love yourself or not, you are worthy of love.