Self Love Lounge

It's time to be present with yourself. To quiet the mind, return to your body, and come back to love. When you close your eyes, take a deep breath in and out, and allow yourself to be still, you begin to reconnect with the love that has always existed within you. And once you remember what it feels like to truly feel that love, you never really forget it. In this episode, host Areena Antoine e...

What happens when you write your name at the centre of a blank piece of paper? You realize you can be a kind person and still have a very selective life. In this episode, Areena reflects on what it means to put yourself on the priority list and asks: What could happen now that I actually know what matters? Perhaps you lose your old life, but finally have the space to choose a life that inspires yo...

At 19, I was forced into loneliness and thought it was something happening to me. In this episode, I reflect on betrayal, being accused of something I didn’t do, and finding myself with the truth in my hands, but choosing to heal instead of using it against the people who hurt me. I talk about how the people we allow into our lives can shape us, for better or for worse, and how that experience tau...

Dear you, Maybe I’m the bad guy. I used to think being a good girl meant being nice, understanding, and accommodating. But what happens when being nice starts costing you your relationship with yourself? This episode is based on a true story. I’m talking about rejection, boundaries, loneliness, being misunderstood, and the uncomfortable realization that sometimes choosing yourself means disappoint...

We don’t need to shut the door on our past selves to grow. Nothing in us has to be erased for us to change and become something new. Growth isn’t about deleting who we were. It’s about understanding how every version of us has led to this moment. Even the parts we’ve outgrown still carry lessons, and we don’t have to reject them to move forward. We can expand without abandoning ourselves. This epi...

We all have patterns we find ourselves repeating over and over, often without realizing how deeply they shape the way we give, the way we love, and the way we lose ourselves along the way. Sometimes change isn’t something we force, it’s something we surrender into, as we begin to see where we’ve been overgiving, losing our center, and slowly drifting away from ourselves. And slowly, we begin to re...

Sometimes opening your heart again isn’t about rushing into love; it’s about surrendering to the process of asking for help. Sometimes your heart breaks open just enough for you to see what has always been there, not by force, but by surrender, not by seeking, but by allowing. And slowly, you begin to receive the love that has never left. This episode is for those who are returning to themselves,...

There is no blueprint for grief. There is no timeline. Sometimes we wait for a sign to give us permission to let go, but it rarely comes, because waiting is just trying to control what we cannot. Healing begins when we surrender, when we turn inward and allow ourselves to feel and release. And honestly one random day, we realize we’ve been climbing a mountain we couldn’t see. At the top, we notice...

Areena Antoine opens the season reflecting on love, loss, and the courage it takes to choose yourself. After a year of shedding relationships, friendships, and beliefs, she explores the heartbreak of first love and the grief that follows, discovering that grief is proof of having loved fully. This episode is for anyone who has loved deeply, lost fully, and struggled to hold themselves in the midst...

A glimpse into my world, my struggles, my joys, and the lessons that have brought me here. ‘The Trailer of my Becoming’ is my raw  invitation to share the journey of a 26-year-old Mauritian-Canadian woman learning to stand in her truth. Every episode peels back the layers of my recovery from heartbreak, the moments I’ve stumbled, the ways I’ve reclaimed my power, and the small victories that remin...

When life feels chaotic, your body whispers:  come home.  In this episode, Areena reflects on the times she lost touch with her body through conflict, projection, and the weight of others’ expectations and how she found her way back through stillness, self-compassion, and truth. This conversation is an invitation to listen to your body's wisdom, ground yourself in love, and to become the safe spac...

This episode is from my heart to anyone who know what it’s like to show up fully but still feel unseen. To be misunderstood, mislabeled, and told to make yourself smaller in spaces that were never made for all of you. I see you. I’ve been there too. This episode is about shedding all those survival layers. It’s about choosing peace and power, the kind our ancestors prayed for, even when the world...

You know you’ve crossed over when your life reflects your soul, not your survival. My inner child is screaming/whispering,  "omgomgomg,"  because it's finally happening. Since my teens, I’ve been choosing myself, even when it was hard, even when I didn’t fully know who I was. I kept choosing until it stuck. Now, adulthood isn’t an arrival, it’s a daily becoming. It means no longer abandoning the p...

Sometimes we enter situations knowing they aren’t meant to last forever. We stay because it feels right, or we convince ourselves it’s different this time. But eventually, we realize the only person we needed to be was ourselves. This episode is about breaking up with the versions of ourselves and relationships that no longer align. It's about finding peace in letting go and realizing that true he...

You are here to explore, to dream, and to peel back the layers of what truly calls to you. Your desires are unfolding, revealing themselves again and again, until you are ready to fully claim them. This episode Sherhara Burrell serves as a reminder that you are the youngest you will ever be, right now. So, what’s the rush? Take your time, trust the journey, and embrace the beautiful process of bec...

A year later, it’s hard to acknowledge all that we’ve felt, just for it to now be released. The dance between what once was before what is no longer, is now surrendered. When we run at the cost of losing someone or something we know is never going to be true, walking to acceptance is the new light. This episode, to me, is a celebration, not a lesson because we’ve already experienced enough of thos...

Spiritual awakenings are often romanticized as beautiful, but in reality, they can be overwhelming and full of pain. We often find ourselves seeking, only to realize that what we seek has always resided within us. There comes a time in our healing journey when we are prompted to release everything we’ve sown, allowing our soul to blossom—a process that can only happen in the dark. Allow the dark p...

We’ve been taught to fear the dark, but it’s often where we find the truest parts of ourselves. From the safety of our mother’s womb to life’s quiet, reflective spaces, darkness holds a kind of nurturing that’s rarely recognized. Our next guest speaker, lotus and I dive into reclaiming this space and the power of documenting our life for ourselves. Embracing the ebbs and flows, we learn to see the...

When you begin to grow, those around you may either evolve with you or remain where you left them. Choosing for yourself can trigger envy and jealousy from your circles, creating dynamics that seek to keep you in a past version of yourself that no longer exists. Executive Director of 5X, Harpo reminds us to stay grounded in who we are, affirming there’s no right or wrong way to feel safe in truth,...

Have you ever found yourself peeling away layers of lies, only to uncover truths that shake the very foundation of who you thought you were? In this special birthday episode of Self Love Lounge, Areena Channels her journey of shedding the lies that once defined her early 20s, revealing the pain and freedom that comes with embracing truth. She dives into the chaos of losing people, dreams, and the...

There comes a time in our journey when our external reality no longer aligns with the truth emerging from our hearts. In those moments, our wounds slow us down, guiding our tears to transform into a soulful breath that welcomes the wisdom within our pain. Breathwork Teacher Krista Reid reminds us that a healing journey may not always be clear, but the distance we’ve traveled illuminates the many c...

Have you ever tried on your favorite outfit, only to find it no longer fits? It’s a mix of emotions—grieving the loss of who we were while finding joy in creating new memories as a new version of self. Embracing new styles that reflect who we’re becoming can be daunting, as old stories—often far from the truth—weigh on our hearts. Joy and grief can coexist as we move on from what we once loved. Gu...

When you and your soul are misaligned, you ignore signs that may be truthful for you. This disconnection can manifest as physical disturbances, making you the worst version of yourself. Recently, life has been about making tough decisions and pushing past complacency. I say, hell yes! Keep making those difficult choices that set you apart. We weren't brought here to be the same; we were meant to l...

Despite committing to healing and growing into blissful change, there are moments when we pause, unsure of who we've become. Reflecting on returning back to basics, the episode prompts listeners to question who they were in winter, who they are emerging in spring, and who they aspire to be, urging them to navigate the challenges of maintaining self-worth amidst opinions, uncertainty, and change. A...

Love is not rationalizing poor judgement. Love is not miscommunication. Love is not failed attempts. Love is not against you. Love is you. If you recently been called to let go of the loved you love, then this episode is for your heart. As an energy exchange, please rate, review and write a loving note to host Areena Antoine on Spotify, Apple Podcast and All major Platforms.