At a Glance
- Leighton Meester tells News Of Los Angeles she repeats “I love myself” daily to drown out negativity
- The actress calls self-deprecation useless: “It doesn’t make any pitch better, nothing”
- She fronts Godiva’s Valentine’s campaign celebrating love in every form
- Why it matters: Her candid take offers a practical way readers can quiet inner critics
Leighton Meester has turned the simple phrase “I love myself” into a daily shield against outside criticism and internal doubt. In an exclusive interview with News Of Los Angeles, the 39-year-old actress details how deliberate self-talk transformed her mindset and why she now rejects the reflex to put herself down.
From Struggle to Mantra
Meester admits the journey was rocky at first.
“There was a long time where I was like, this is kind of embarrassing to say and feel,” the Gossip Girl alum tells News Of Los Angeles. She pushed through the discomfort by repeating the mantra “I love myself” even before she fully believed it.
“Practicing it even before you believe it is how I have felt that I’ve brought it into true practice,” she explains.
Why Self-Deprecation Had to Go
The actress now sees little value in mocking herself.
“I think that self-deprecation is innate, and we’re so used to it,” Meester says. “But I don’t think it really gets me anywhere. It doesn’t make more ideas, doesn’t make me more creative, doesn’t make any pitch better, nothing.”
She replaces the habit with private moments of deliberate kindness, noting that the positivity “trickles out into other parts of my life.”
Godiva Campaign Celebrates All Love
Meester continues her partnership with the chocolatier for the “Say it with Godiva” Valentine’s push. The campaign encourages expressing love to yourself, romantic partners, family, or friends.
The star again portrays Lady Godiva, a role she calls “a really useful and fun way to tell a story.”
“Lady G, as I like to call her, is obviously so iconic,” she says. “Godiva has made a completely new spin on it all, but also really gave it a sense of humor and a modernism that I think everyone can relate to.”
Key Takeaways
- Meester’s self-love tactic is simple: repeat positive words until they feel real
- She credits the practice with boosting creativity and confidence
- The actress balances work, marriage to Adam Brody, and parenting two children while maintaining the routine
- Godiva’s campaign frames self-love as equally worthy of celebration this Valentine’s season
