Leighton Meester is all about love — especially self-love.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the actress, 39, opens up about the importance of loving herself, as well as how she combats unloving feelings from others.
"I think self-love, for me, does look like just speaking positively to myself," Meester — who continues her ongoing partnership with Godiva — says.
"Certainly speaking positively of others too, but [it's important] that I really include myself in that, because there are plenty of not-so-nice feelings that you can absorb out from the world," she adds. "But I really do have to enjoy continuing the journey of self-love and telling myself and believing that I'm worthy of it, just because I exist."
According to Meester, showing herself love over the years hasn't always been the easiest task.
"There was a long time where I was like, this is kind of embarrassing to say and feel, and really put weight onto," the Gossip Girl alum admits.
Still, she was able to see the importance — and the power — in hyping herself up, and realizing that she isn't unworthy of love, especially from herself.
"I was like, 'No, just power through and say the words I love myself' over and over and over, and love the deepest parts of yourself," Meester says. "I do think that practicing it even before you believe it is how I have felt that I've brought it into true practice."
Now, Meester — who is married to and shares two children with husband Adam Brody — tells PEOPLE that expressing self-love is an easy task for her.
"It's good, because then you really go, 'Actually, this isn't so hard,' " the Nobody Wants This and Good Cop/Bad Cop star says.
"I think that self-deprecation is innate, and we're so used to it ... but I think I do [it] much less so now, just because I don't think it really gets me anywhere," Meester continues.
She adds, "It doesn't make more ideas, doesn't make me more creative, doesn't make any pitch better, nothing. I do think that, in private moments, I need as much self-love as possible, and I think it trickles out into other parts of my life."
Through her latest work with Godiva, for a campaign titled “Say it with Godiva," the chocolate company is celebrating Valentine’s Day and embracing love in all its expressions.
"For this particular campaign, we're encouraging love, whether it's with yourself or a romantic partner or family or friends," Meester says. "I think that's romantic, no matter who it's with, and especially if it's with yourself."
The star continues to portray her own version of Lady Godiva in her latest Godiva campaign, and Meester tells PEOPLE, "It's a really useful and fun way to tell a story."
"Lady G, as I like to call her, and the imagery and the lore, is obviously so iconic," she adds. "But I think what I really love about Godiva and all the work that I've done with them is that they've 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."
