In this modern world, most women forget to prioritize themselves. Every effort is put into making sure everyone around them is happy and fulfilled while forgetting they need to take care of themselves as women.

A women’s conference on self-love was held on 26 July 2026 with an attendance of more than 70 women at Mumana Green Events in Chelstone, in a serene garden that offered a confidential peaceful environment. It gave strategies on practicing self-love as women. The dress code was maxi-dresses or (long African dresses) which made all the women stand out.

The first speaker, Ms. Patience Mwilu touched on personal grooming as self-love requires you take care of your personal looks. She reminded the women that society addresses you as you dress.

Personal grooming is more than just looking good. It is about self-love! It is how you carry yourself, how you feel when you walk into a room, and the quiet message you send about how much you value yourself. When you show up well-groomed, people notice, and so do you.
Your personal grooming affects your appearance which in turn affects your public perception;
• Your Professionalism
• Your level of sophistication
• Your intelligence
• Your credibility
She reminded the women that our face is usually the first thing people see. A regular skincare routine keeps your skin healthy, slows down signs of ageing, and helps with breakouts and dullness. Further, she spoke on healthy hair which says a lot about how well you look after yourself. Whether your hair is natural, relaxed, loc’d or weaved, the basics of good hair care are the same. The ladies were also reminded that well-kept nails, whether natural, painted or extended, show that you pay attention to the details. People notice hands far more than most of us realise. One cannot talk of personal grooming without good body hygiene, which is the starting point for everything else. It keeps you healthy and comfortable, and it is respectful to the people around you.

Finally, she emphasized that good grooming is not about being perfect. It is about showing up for yourself every day in small, consistent ways. You do not need expensive products or hours of spare time. The basics, done regularly, are what truly make the difference. Therefore, looks matter, be it at home or in the boardroom and do it for yourself. Because when you are clean and look good, you will feel good.

Ms. Jean Habanji, the second speaker, taught the women that abuse is not just physical but emotional as well. She spoke on how to identify abuse and come out of it. Abuse can be financial, where someone expects you to always give, without caring where you are getting the money from. That entitlement that leaves you drained, the endless calls and expectations from people who think you never run dry or have no use for your hard-earned money. She reminded the women that a man who beats you once will beat you time and again. Take a drastic step of reporting to victim support when abuse is physical because the reward that you will get from beatings is usually early death. Further, she emphasized that sexual deprivation to those in marriage is also a form of abuse. If you love yourself as a woman, you will take extra care to recognize and resolve the different forms of abuse and set boundaries that protect your physical and mental well-being.

The third speaker, Ms. Chikumbi L. Chama, spoke to the women on the importance of managing finances and savings as a form of self-love. She emphasized the need to have self-discipline and the understanding that you need to know yourself in terms of what drives you in order to have a savings plan and that every step counts. She reminded the women that self-love is key to developing a healthy money story that is deep rooted in self-worth and financial boundaries. Self-love requires one to choose long term well-being over immediate gratification. And in doing this, one needs discipline. In doing so, one needs to treat money as a tool to protect and nurture ones well-being than a measure of worth. It involves planning for the future through consistent conscious saving and making choices aligned with ones personal values. It involves balancing one’s budget with the freedom to enjoying ones life. Mindful spending could not be re-emphasized and the spirit of building a safety net that can cover you for 3-9 months to navigate unexpected crises without relying on high interest debt.

In applying self-love in savings, the women were remined to ensure their cash flow is kept growing and earning and that they have a spending plan. The idea of belonging to various lending groups where you borrow to spend for consumption without investment was discouraged. Finally, she gave a tip that money or investments must work for you.

The fourth speaker, Ms. Olivia P. Abrahams, gave her own testimony of how she went after her dreams and built a thriving business from her hobbies. She is now a seasoned caterer after leaving the corporate world but emphasized that upgrading one’s skills and qualifications gives you an advantage in the business world.
Self-love means accepting yourself wholeheartedly, treating yourself with kindness and respect and prioritizing your physical and emotional health. It goes beyond mere actions and extends to your thoughts and feelings about yourself.

Loving yourself means maintaining an overall positive outlook about who you are. This doesn’t mean that you always feel positive about yourself, as that would be unrealistic. For instance, there may be moments when you feel upset, angry, or disappointed with yourself, and yet you can still love yourself—just as you can still love your child or partner despite occasionally being angry with them.

Without self-love, we’re prone to harsh self-criticism and may succumb to people-pleasing tendencies and perfectionism. We may tolerate mistreatment from others, disregard our own needs and feelings due to a lack of self-worth, and make choices that undermine our best interests.

To practice self-love, one needs to have self-compassion: Treat yourself with kindness, understanding, and empathy, especially during challenging times. Acknowledge that you are human and deserving of love and forgiveness.
Set your boundaries by recognizing and asserting your needs, and communicating them clearly to others. Prioritize your well-being by saying “no” to things that drain your energy or compromise your values.
Self-love does not hinder caring for others; it merely allows individuals to extend the same kindness to themselves.

Practicing self-love is hard for many of us and It’s normal to feel unsure about it. However, embracing self-love doesn’t necessitate transforming every aspect of your life. Start by treating yourself a little better than you did yesterday by identifying one loving act you can undertake for yourself today.

The Guest of Honour, Madam Florence Mumba, spoke on the need for the women to understand that having self-love is not a crime as you cannot give what you do not have. That even the bible tells us to love our neigbours as much as we love ourselves. She reminded the women that we can do so much if we believe in ourselves as we have the power to excel in everything, we put our mind to. The women were further reminded to not be enemies of themselves but to support and up-lift each other in all they do.

Finally, to practice self-love, start by being kind, patient, gentle and compassionate to yourself, the way you would with someone else that you care about.

A special thanks to Manjase Boutique, Bibagry Zambia and the ZRA Women in leadership for sponsoring women to the conference.
Remember to always, “Seek help when in need, visit a Counsellor near you!”