Loving oneself means showing true compassion by disciplining the soul and protecting it from harmful desires. This kind of love is not indulgent, but purposeful—it helps you rise above your lower self rather than be ruled by it. 

When you love yourself for the sake of Allah, you do not become a captive of fleeting temptations. Instead, you guide your soul toward what is meaningful and lasting, directing it on the path to Allah rather than chasing empty desires.

“But as for the one who feared standing before his Lord and restrained the soul from [its] desires, then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge.” — Surah An-Nazi’at (79:40–41)