Singer and songwriter Demi Lovato is known for being open about her mental health journey, and the realities that people who live with mental health challenges face. In a song titled “I Love Me”, Lovato ponders the role of society and self-sabotage in keeping her sick and concludes with a powerful statement: “I’m a ten out of ten, even when I forget it”. Some may view this as self-centered, but that is the message of the song – we live in a society that keeps us from loving ourselves, by encouraging us to compare ourselves to unattainable ideals. However, having a well-known artist like Lovato acknowledge this, and be able to openly defy this standard with a ballad of self-love, is encouraging.

Flipping through all of these magazines

Telling me who I’m supposed to be

Way too good at camouflage

Can’t see what I am

I just see what I’m not

I’m guilty ’bout everything that I eat

(Every single bit)

Feeling myself is a felony

Jedi level sabotage

Voices in my head make up my entourage

‘Cause I’m a black belt when I’m beating up on myself

But I’m an expert at giving love to somebody else

I, me, myself and

I, don’t see eye to

Eye, me, myself and

I

Oh, why do I compare myself to everyone?

And I always got my finger on the self destruct

I wonder when I love me is enough (yeah, yeah, yeah)

I wonder when I love me is enough (yeah, yeah, yeah)

Image Credits:
Feature Image: Bart LaRue, on Unsplash, Creative Commons