We’ve spent an entire year in various forms of lockdown, so it’s no surprise that discussions about mental health are a top priority for many of us at this moment. As moms, we must check in with ourselves, and we have to ensure our kids are feeling their best, too.   Feeling needed, loved, and worthy are essential for survival, but getting to that point isn’t always easy.    What can we do to start feeling genuine self-love, so we can model that kind of behavior for our children? Outside of reminding our kids that they’re worthy, how can we help them start believing that to be true?   In this episode, award-winning author and teen confidence expert, Jacqui Letran shares how to build real, unconditional self-love in ourselves and our children.   Three Things You’ll Learn in This Episode Why we're approaching mental health all wrong Far too often we treat the symptoms of anxiety and depression when we should mitigate them from the start. It's more beneficial to deal with the source, rather than the outcome. When positivity becomes damaging Telling ourselves we’re amazing every day may sound like a good idea, but if we don’t feel like we’re amazing, it could be detrimental. Instead of focusing on the words we say to ourselves, we have to think about how we feel. How to start believing affirmations, one step at a time Ambitious affirmations can get overwhelming fast, so start small. Rather than saying we are brilliant, or even saying we ‘feel’ brilliant, it’s a good idea to start with ‘I am willing to be or feel brilliant’.   Guest Bio-    Jacqui Letran is an Award-Winning Author, Nurse Practitioner, and Teen Confidence Expert with over 20 years of experience guiding youth to optimal physical and mental health. Her multi-award-winning book series, Words of Wisdom for Teens has earned eighteen awards and is regarded as a "must-read" collection of books for teens and young adults struggling with low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression.   To connect with Jacqui, visit: https://www.jacquiletran.com/  Instagram.com/JacquiLetran Facebook.com/JacquiLetran Linkedin.com/in/JacquiLetran   And to find out more about her Words of Wisdom for Teens book series, go to  https://www.amazon.com/Jacqui-Letran/e/B00O752IY0