Self-love isn’t a buzzword to Wanda Tracey, the Henderson-based matchmaker and officiant known for her thoughtful, introspective approach to pairing people. It is, she explains, the starting line for every healthy relationship. “Self-love is the foundation for everything,” she says. It shows up in companionship, friendship, and romantic partnerships; reflected in the people we choose and the way we allow ourselves to be treated.
The journey toward self-love begins with one simple but powerful practice: observing your inner dialogue. Wanda encourages clients to pay attention to the thoughts they have about themselves and the immediate effect those thoughts have on their bodies. “Mind your thoughts without judging, just observe,” she says. When we look for companionship, we tend to gravitate to what feels familiar. “Nothing is more familiar to us than our own internal dialogue.” In other words, our thoughts shape the relationships we attract.
That introspection becomes especially important when someone tells her they’re ready to date. Wanda’s first step is to clarify what readiness means to them. Her work isn’t about casual dating; it’s about helping people find a true match. She evaluates whether a client is truly ready for a lasting relationship or simply eager to get back out there. “There’s a significant difference between being ready to date and being ready to match,” she explains. If someone is still in the exploratory phase, she encourages them to use dating apps or social groups to gain experience. That period of active dating teaches self-awareness and helps them understand what they want, what they don’t want, and who they are when showing up for someone else. Only when a client is committed to the deeper process does Wanda begin the journey toward matching.
Many people who come to her are healing from breakups, divorce, or long stretches of being single, and she sees the same emotional hurdles appear repeatedly. The biggest fears? Rejection and trust. Rejection fuels the worry of not being enough or not being lovable; trust brings its own tangle of questions: Can I trust myself? Can I trust someone new? Can I trust the process?
Then there’s vulnerability; the hallmark of true connection, yet often the most challenging step. “It’s the gateway to love,” she says. “But it’s also the biggest block to experiencing love.”
Wanda offers a reframe on gifting yourself companionship, even before you meet a partner. The gift, she says, is presence. It’s the act of listening to your own thoughts, welcoming them—even the messy ones—and asking how those thoughts might look if they transformed into love. The practice isn’t about perfection; it’s about awareness, acceptance, and gentle correction.
For anyone who suspects they’re not quite ready to date, Wanda recommends three powerful actions: seek support from a coach or therapist; explore guided self-inquiry with tools such as Dean Graziosi’s transformative “7 Levels Deep” exercise; and commit to one month of intentional self-observation. “Your thoughts reveal everything you need to know about companionship,” she says.
Her matchmaking work is exclusive to locals, giving her a front-row seat to the emotional landscape of the Henderson/Las Vegas community. And while the region’s
dating culture often gets a reputation for being difficult, Wanda sees it differently. “The seer will see what they are able to see,” she says. “Some focus on the desert, bleak and
barren. Others see life, love, and abundance. The real challenge isn’t finding love; it’s being open to welcoming it, starting with yourself.”
This Valentine’s season, Wanda leaves readers with a simple but profound invitation: download the 7 Levels Deep exercise and try it. “I challenge you to do it and see what happens,” she says. Because the path to love begins long before a match, sometimes with nothing more than a single honest question.
There’s a difference between being ready to date and being ready to match. Real readiness comes from self-awareness, healed expectations, and a willingness to show up vulnerably for the kind of love you truly want.