Self-Love in Action: Practical Ways to Bring Self-Compassion into Work, Relationships & Everyday Life

by Zoe Crook

A practical approach to self-love with evidence-based therapy skills to trust your inner voice, make confident decisions, and live with greater personal empowerment in your relationships, career, and everyday life.

Many studies show that self-love is central to good mental health. Self-Love in Action helps you cultivate compassion, accountability, and self-respect in all areas of your life. In this practical, everyday guide, self-love becomes a verb—a moving declaration towards personal empowerment. This psychology-driven book offers proactive strategies to redirect you back to your authentic self by learning to listen to the voice within. Guided by a therapist, you'll confront the past, examine the present, and prepare for the future by setting boundaries, taking accountability, and practicing the ultimate act of self-love.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Mental Health

160 pages, Paperback

Published October 25, 2022

About the author

Zoë Crook, MA is a licensed relationship therapist and insightful writer dedicated to guiding individuals and couples through the complexities of attachment, anxiety, and intimate connection. After earning her Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, she began her career working with underserved communities, supporting adults and teens through grief, depression, trauma, and substance-use challenges

In her private practice—now based remotely from Lisbon, Portugal—Zoë specializes in relationship anxiety, attachment trauma, and low self-worth. Trained not only in talk therapy but also in Somatic Experiencing through the Peter Levine Institute, she brings a holistic, body-centered approach to healing

.Her signature blend of care, curiosity, and kindness creates a warm and transformative space where clients can explore their emotional patterns and deepen their connection with themselves and others .

A frequent podcast guest, Zoë has been featured on BEautifully Unwinding, where she emphasized that “relationships will not heal you, but YOU can heal your relationships” by cultivating curiosity and building trust in oneself

Outside of her clinical work, she writes thoughtfully about self-love, resilience, and relational growth. She lives in Lisbon with her partner and two dogs, and continues to offer 1:1 therapy, couples counseling, and online courses globally

Reviews

[Melanie THEE Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this book on a whim because ya girl refuses to return to her doomscrolling era.

"Loving yourself is like being wrapped in a warm blanket. It’s the feeling that even when things aren’t okay, you know you will be okay."


This has to be one of the most inclusive, well-written self-help books that I've ever read. If you're wary of the somethings flowery and cheesy language of self-help books (and the fact that they're usually geared towards wealthy cishet white people) then this is the book for you. The author gives you small, attainable ways to practice self-love in your daily lives. A fabulous read.

[Phyllis | Mocha Drop · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be relatable, relevant and easily readable – its conversational tone and simplistic structure makes it easy to grasp the messages and to revisit specific concepts when needed. The examples are numerous and timeless - meaning these are situations that most people may have experienced directly or indirectly or may encounter via life’s journeys. Each provides a holistic view (past/present) with solid, practical suggestions for healing and improvement – many were best practices I may have heard/read before - but sound advice and healthy recommendations nonetheless.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.

[Cassie Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Zeitgeist for the gifted copy! This is a quick and easy read that I definitely recommend for those looking to start their self-love journey. The author uses real life examples from her work to illustrate self-love in action, as the title suggests. You will also find quizzes and “time to practice” blurbs that give you ideas on how to integrate the ideas of this book into your everyday life. These sections of the book are very helpful for those who are unsure how to start in their self-love journey. The author takes into account both past and present influences on a person’s well-being while also acknowledging privilege and discrimination in relation to being able to apply self-love ideals into a daily routine.
This book may not be for everyone, and if you are far along in your self-love journey you can probably skip it, but I did thoroughly enjoy the read!

[Dani Boise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this and found several aspects quite enlightening. Lots of tidbits I'll remember and actionable items to work on in my own life.

I liked the way the parts and chapters were laid out, for example: past influences, present influences, self-love in action, etc. I found this well written and presented. The real-life examples/ stories were a nice touch to show that others could be going through something similar when you think you're alone.

Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for this ARC.

[Richelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I am pleasantly surprised by the detail and work put into creating this book.

This is a great beginner’s guide/ reminder to self-love for people who feel the need to practice more self-love. It teaches you to challenge your way of thinking and being in a loving and compassionate manner towards yourself.

The author did a great job of making you reevaluate yourself and the way you love yourself and her having had the questions that help guide your thinking into becoming the person you want to be.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this nonfiction book, taking it slowly so that I could work on each chapter’s “Practice” as I was reading through it. Although there were a couple of chapters that didn’t pertain to me (Romantic Relationships, for one, as I have been married for 40 years), I found this book is exactly what it claims to be: Practical Ways to Bring Self-Compassion into Work, Relationships & Everyday Life.

In addition to practical ways to learn self-compassion in both your inner and outer worlds, there are also helpful quizzes, people’s stories, and important information.

Definitely a must-read for anyone who needs a little more self-love in their lives. Thanks for the free book, @penguinrandomhouse. Once again, I enjoyed the opportunity to read for Zeitgeist!

[Audrey Stars in Her Eye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for the gifted book, Penguin Random House!
Self-Love in Action is a great book for those just starting to work on self-love. If you've already down the road, skip this book.
The author breaks the book into three parts: understanding self love, your inner world, and the outer world. Each chapter then breaks these down specific areas. You ending up looking at your past, present and future; read about other's stories and participate in practice activities. My favorite part ar the love notes included at the end.
For anyone who wnts to get started with self love, pick you this book!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed how the author humbled herself and her viewpoints in the introduction to the book. I liked how she seemed to have good ideas and sounded like she knew what she was talking about throughout the chapters of the book. I didn't like how short the book was nor how there were no workbook activities, which I thought should really have been a part of this book.

[Kaycee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Zeitgeist Publishing and Penguin Random House for this gifted book.

This started off strong but then started to fall off in the middle for me. It has some good tips but a lot of things that are personal opinions like any other self help book. Its a good read for those that like self help however because its a quick read.

[Jenell Masse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Succinctly covers it all and bravely shines a light on the darkness within us all. Easy to read and absorb, it will definitely help advance your inner work.

[Viviana]

I received a free NetGalley digital copy from the Zeitgeist Insiders Club.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very nice book on self love. It helped me with introspection, and it was nice to return to when I was in the mood to learn more about myself.

[Surya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well! I higlighted pretty much the entire book, should I even say anymore? Check my highlights.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bite sized and manageable bits of knowledge to get your toes wet in the subject. Glad she left a future reading section.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks for the gifted book, @penguinrandomhouse!

I enjoyed this book a lot. It’s very approachable and digestible with a conversational tone and short chapters. It very much feels like you’re being cheered on!

I also like that there’s a wide scope to this book from body image to work to community, making it a great resource to come back to as different areas of your like becoming challenging.

[Lecy Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to receive a copy of this book because self-love is something I plan to work on in the new year. Self-love is one of those things that's easy to think about but often difficult to put into action in your life, and the author helps the reader do just that. There are passages on topics like self-talk, health, and body image along with personal stories or case studies. At the end of each section, there are journaling or thought prompts that help you reflect and learn how you can apply these principles to your life. I'm very excited to dig in and start doing this work! *Free copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Chelsea Kowal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Self-Love in Action, written by Zoe Crook, is a wonderfully written, detailed “self-help” book that focuses on exactly what the title says- self-love. Having been in therapy for the majority of my life, I related to all of the book and found it to be a comprehensive review of all I have learned in therapy. The book solidified my knowledge of how aspects of self-love like self-compassion and self-discipline help people work through issues better and more easily. This book is so detailed that it even talks about aspects of our lives such as family, including the family we can create with people who are not related to us by blood. Self-Love in Action is a shorter book than some but it is jam-packed with incredible examples and how our past experiences shape how we love ourselves. I think the examples of the author’s clients were probably my favorite part of the book. Some of the information is a lot easier said than done, but when the author gave real-life examples, I could relate to different aspects of the stories that were shared. There is so much critical information in this book that I probably will read it more than once. This is one of the best self-hep books I have read in a long time. However, I will give it 4 out of 5 stars, because I did not learn too much new information. As I mentioned, it was more of a review for me. Thank you to Zoe Crook (the author), NetGalley and Zeitgeist Publishing (the publisher) for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. -Chelsea K. Reviewer

[MookNana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent read, both for people new to the concept for self-love and for everyone else, who can use an occasional reminder. Chapters are concise, well-organized and full of practical and evidence-based ideas for how to offer yourself compassion and make your well-being a priority. I especially like the distinction made between toxic positivity and positive self-talk, complete with examples. It's so important to recognize the difference!

The tone is casual and conversational, so this goes down easy, like a conversation with a friend. It's short, sweet, and full of good ideas and anyone could benefit from picking it up!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super important book for everyone to read. I would say this is more for beginners, but anyone can benefit from it. Being interested in the topic and naturally very good at self-care (probably too good), a lot of this was knowledge I already had. It’s always good to be reminded, though! It did feel like common sense at times. It is a super easy read, covering most of the major life topics. She discusses past influences, present Influences, provided real-life experiences, and gives you action plans to follow to put it all in motion. If you struggle with self-care, read this! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Smut Goblin · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌸 Self-Love in Action by Zoë Crook is a compassionate and practical guide that makes self-love feel accessible in everyday life.

Instead of lofty advice, Crook offers grounded exercises, reflective quizzes, and real-life case studies that help you pause, set boundaries, and shift the focus inward without guilt. Her writing is warm and encouraging—like a trusted friend cheering you on—reminding us that self-love isn’t selfish, it’s essential.

With tools you can return to again and again, this book is perfect for anyone ready to build confidence, nurture themselves, and bring more kindness into their work, relationships, and daily routines.

[John Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self-love In Action is a must read for anyone struggling to love and accept themselves: in other words, most of us. Concise, pragmatic, anecdotal and sharp, Zoe's book offers a plethora of insights and methods for working with our shame, lack of self care, relationship struggles and difficult work situations. Not only does Self-Love in Action address the psychological roots of why we feel "less than" but offers myriad exercises to work with our bodies and minds to become happier human beings.