How to See Yourself the Way You See Your Celebrity Crush

What Does It Mean to Fall in Love with Yourself?

“Picture this: You’re watching your favorite celebrity on screen. The way they move, the way they speak, the way they own their presence-it’s captivating.
You feel something deep in your chest, a pull, an admiration so strong it feels like magic. But what if that magic wasn’t about them at all? What if it was a reflection of you?”

We grow up hearing people say, “My celebrity crush is…” followed by an endless list of names.

“I remember watching Tomb Raider for the first time. Angelina wasn’t just playing Lara Croft— she was her. Fierce, fearless, unstoppable. I wanted to be that confident. I wanted to move like that, own my power like that. I wasn’t just watching a movie—| was seeing a version of myself I hadn’t met yet.”

Like most people, I consumed media without questioning why certain figures captivated me.

In today’s world, we are bombarded with over 80,000 pieces of information daily-more than our grandparents consumed in an entire lifetime.

Yes.

You read that right.

Mind-blowing, I know.

So, I decided to pause and unpack it. I wanted to understand:

• • What was it about Angelina that I admired so much?

• • Why did I feel so in awe of her?

• • And most importantly, what did that admiration say about me?

It felt like I was interviewing myself.

A Self-Interview: Unpacking Admiration

Interviewer (Higher Self): Why Angelina Jolie?

Me (Current Self): She’s so incredibly beautiful-are you kidding me?

Interviewer (HS): Okay, but how so? In what way?

Me (CS):

• Her deep sense of philanthropy-adopting three children and championing women’s education.
  
  
• Her soft yet powerful gaze (The Tourist).
  
  
• Her intelligence and presence (Mr. & Mrs. Smith).
  
  
• Her warrior spirit (Tomb Raider).
  
  
• Her audacity and courage-doing most of her own stunts.
  
  
• Her commitment to global change-a decade as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and another as a Special Envoy.
  
  
• Her unwavering advocacy for refugees, women’s rights, and humanitarian efforts.
  
  
• Her classy yet rebellious edge-elegance with a touch of wild.

Interviewer (HS): Right. I see…

The Moment It Clicked: My Admiration Was a Mirror

I remember the exact moment it clicked for me.

I was journaling, listing out all the things I admired about Angelina Jolie, and suddenly, I found myself writing things I had done too.

Maybe not on a Hollywood scale, but in my own way.

I had fought for what I believed in.

• I had fought for what I believed in.
• I had taken risks.
• I had been a voice for the voiceless.

I sat there, staring at the page, and thought:

“What if admiration isn’t just admiration?

What if it’s soul recognition?

What if the qualities that pull you toward someone else are actually pieces of yourself calling you home?

The way you feel when you watch them, when you admire them—it’s not because they are above you. It’s because they are showing you who you are meant to be.”

So, I switched perspectives. I let my Ikigai Coach Francesca (my inner guide) take over the interview.

Ikigai Coach Francesca (Alter Ego):

Let’s unpack that further. Based on what you’ve shared…

• You work with orphaned children, children ofwar, and refugee and immigrant children as a UNICEF Mental Health Educator.
• You are a philanthropist & Earthpreneur, creating the School of Ikigai-a sanctuary for those who feel lost and alone. A safe, inclusive space for holistic healing.
• You are radiant and magnetic-you take great care of yourself, practice self-love, and nurture your mind, body, and soul.
• You are an activist with humanitarian work in over 30 countries.

This self-interview wasn’t just about admiration.

It was a shift in awareness.

What I saw in her was already within me.

People as Mirrors: What We See in Others Exists Within Us

 

The people we admire reflect back to us the values we hold, the qualities we aspire to, and the potential we carry.

What we see in others is often a seed within us — waiting to bloom into a flower, a garden, a forest, an oasis.

We think we admire them, but really, we admire:

• • The discipline they embody.

• • The consistency they uphold.

• • The standards they set for themselves.

It’s a mirror.

We are drawn to greatness because a part of us recognizes it as our own.

What If the Only Difference Is Permission?

What if I told you that the only difference between you and the people you admire is that they’ve already given themselves permission to see their own greatness?

←What if the admiration you feel for them is actually your soul screaming, “This is who you are, too!”?

What would change if you stopped looking up to them and started looking within yourself instead?

A Challenge for You: Seeing Yourself Through the Lens of Admiration

Imagine you are the celebrity in your own life.

Now, let your Higher Self interview you the way you just admired your celebrity crush.

What would be said? Take your journal out and begin writing it down.

Loving Yourself as a Work of Art

We admire celebrities because they are presented to us as masterpieces-styled, directed, curated, and perfected.

But you are a masterpiece, too.

Unedited. Raw. Real.

The moment you start seeing yourself with the same awe and reverence, something shifts.

Falling in love with yourself means recognizing that you are just as worthy of the admiration you so effortlessly give to others.

So, Let Me Turn the Question Back to You:

If you were the celebrity in your own life, what would you admire most about yourself?

• • “Oh my Heavens! She’s incredibly resilient— are you kidding me?”

• • “She sees the world in a way that is both deep and poetic.”

• • “She’s got an edge, a presence that’s undeniable.”

• • “She’s been through so much and still moves with grace & grand unconditional love.”

One day, you’ll look in the mirror and see it.

The same magic.

The same strength.

The same beauty.

Not in someone else.

But in you.

P.S. This Isn’t Just a Blog-It’s a Self-Love Manifesto!

Help us share this message & inspire others to see themselves the way they see their celebrity crush.

Drop a comment below and tell us:

• • Who is someone you’ve always admired?

• • Now, tell us—how do those same qualities exist in you?

We’ll be reading every response because we want you to see yourself the way we see you-already extraordinary.

Let’s unpack it. Together.

Happy Self Love Day Tribe — May You Be Your Favorite Valentine.