A Self-Love Journaling Workshop with Shelf Therapy
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of hosting Shelf Therapy’s first event, the Self-Love Journaling Club alongside Susan Ryan at Sala Bistro, Ubud. It was a truly beautiful and inspiring event, reminding us that Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be limited to just one day—we can embrace love, especially self-love, every single day, for instance through journaling.
As someone who has been on a journey of self-growth and self-discovery, this event held a special place in my heart. Susan Ryan, a life and mental coach, has been a guiding light in my personal journey. She played a pivotal role in helping me prepare for and win Puteri Indonesia, ultimately leading me to represent Indonesia at Miss Universe 2022. Her expertise in personal development, mindfulness, and mental resilience helped me navigate the high-pressure world of pageantry with confidence and authenticity. Having her lead this workshop was incredibly meaningful, as she has always emphasized the importance of self-awareness, inner strength, and embracing one’s true self—all of which align perfectly with the theme of self-love.
What is Self-Love?
One of the key takeaways from this workshop was that self-love is not about obsession or indulgence, but rather self-awareness and appreciation. And what makes it even more special? Each of us has our own definition of self-love, shaped by our unique souls and experiences. What most people found interesting is that, we do give our selves the love we deserve but more physically rather than mentally. When it comes to our mind and spirit, we feel like we often do less as it is harder than taking care of our bodies. We often neglect it because it can be quite daunting. We also feel like we need more guidance and learn more about taking care of our mental health.
Journaling Through the Past, Present & Future
We began by introducing ourselves, sharing what brought us to the workshop, and setting intentions for the afternoon. Susan Ryan, a mental coach with a "passion for art & human development," guided us through thoughtful journaling exercises. She emphasized that engaging with art—writing included—can open our minds to infinite possibilities, tapping into our Creative Intelligence.
For our journaling session, we were invited to write letters to ourselves through the lens of past, present, and future:
The Past: Reflecting on how we have (or haven't) practiced self-love, recalling moments where we may have neglected our well-being.
The Present: Acknowledging how we currently show up for ourselves and nurture self-care in our daily lives.
The Future: After a brief one-minute meditation and visualization, where we grounded ourselves with a body scan and envisioned our future selves ten years from now, we wrote about what our future routines would look like.
Between journaling sessions, we took a break for tea, coffee, and light bites, creating a warm space for reflection and conversation. After each session, we stood up to share our experiences, fostering a sense of community and understanding.
One thing we found interesting was that only women showed up for this workshop—even though it was open to everyone! It made me wonder: why do women seem to prioritize self-reflection and emotional well-being more often?
Another unexpected and delightful moment was learning about flower beading from one of the participants—a small but beautiful reminder that love and creativity come in many forms.
Each of us wrote our reflections in beautifully designed lotus-printed notebooks from Saraswati Paper, using stickers and quotes to personalize our pages. As a takeaway, Susan left us with three powerful questions to reflect on at home: What will you stop, start, and keep doing to love yourself?
By the end of the session, I left feeling uplifted, recharged, and deeply connected to myself and others. This experience was a gentle reminder that self-love is an ongoing practice, not just something we think about once a year.
The event was a heartfelt and inspiring gathering, reminding us all that self-love is a continuous journey—rooted in kindness, compassion, honesty, and understanding.
If you ever get the chance to join a journaling workshop like this, I highly recommend it. Taking time to sit with yourself, reflect, and intentionally infuse more love into your life is a gift we all deserve. 💖
What does self-love mean to you? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments!
If you'd like to continue your self-love journey, download Susan Ryan's free journaling prompts to guide your reflections below.
Follow @ShelfTherapyClub on Instagram for more inspiration, book recommendations, and upcoming events. You can also check out our website here for more details.