Some years ago, I found myself stuck in a seemingly unending cyclone of negativity; until one day I realized an important aspect of my journey. The person I would spend the entire of my life with, was me. It struck me, like a lightning bolt across a clear sky – I needed to become my own best friend. Today, I encourage you to join me on this journey.

We often find ourselves in constant battle with our own minds. It’s filled with fear, doubt, and suffering, primarily because we're conditioned to be our own harshest critics. It's imperative to underline those aren’t your natural states of being. You possess the power to reprogram that conditioning. Yes, it's true. You can shed those layers of self-doubt and fear, and it starts from becoming your best ally.

Why should one be friendly with a fear-striking enemy, you wonder? Let me share an insightful event. I remember vividly a seminar by Success Insider, the company I am fortunate to lead. As I stood there watching hundreds of inspired faces, a quote by A. A. Milne flashed in my mind, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

What a truth. Believe me when I say, you indeed are. The one surefire way to navigate the tempestuous seas of fear and self-doubt is to empower yourself. Embrace your inner strength and goodness. You need to develop a genuine friendship with yourself, a bond filled with respect, kindness, and understanding. So, how does one tread on this transformational path?

First, it's about self-awareness. Observe your thoughts and emotions. Feel them, understand them, don’t push them away. Remember this, every emotion you experience is valid. By observing them, you give them a space to exist and to be understood and then, they no longer feel threatening or overwhelming.

Secondly, assume the driver’s seat. You get to decide who gets the power over you, and just as you won’t let a destructive friend rule your life, same goes for the torrent of negative thoughts in your mind. Feed your mind positivity and it shall reciprocate. Reflect on this: What's one positive affirmation you've believed in the past that you should start believing again right now?

Similar to the LMA course I designed, there's a strategic element involved in mastering self-compassion and self-love too. I learned so much from the real-life experiences shared by the participants. Each of their stories was a testament that the mind is a trainable entity.

It's not an overnight job, it takes patience, persistence, and a lot of unlearning and relearning. But, as the embodiment of the quote “Every journey begins with a single step,” irrespective of the pace, the journey is worth taking.

Investing in self-care activities, practicing mindfulness and gratitude, or even a simple exercise of looking into the mirror and acknowledging your worth, can be incredibly rewarding. The echoes of self-love drown the chatter of self-doubt. So wouldn't it be wonderful to be your greatest cheerleader, your own guiding light?

Along this journey, visualize the best version of yourself. Not Tim Han or any other person you admire, but you, in all of your magnificence. Practice speaking to yourself as you would want your best friend to do. Your language towards yourself should reflect compassion and empathy.

In the end, success, as I've always believed, is becoming the true person you really are. Allowing yourself to experience emotions, might they be fear, joy, sorrow, or excitement, because that's what makes you human, and yes, human is beautiful. So tell me, are you ready to embark on this journey of love, tenderness, and friendship towards yourself, starting today?

Remember, only when you become your own best friend, will life cease to be a battlefield, turning into a playground instead. Embrace the art of self-love and make life your masterpiece.