"I will no longer tolerate less than I deserve" is the life lesson shared by a St. Louis-based motivational speaker and author who keenly focuses on personal transformations.
In the book The Love Habit about balancing one's overall health, author and relationship expert Rainie Howard explores the profound connection between self-image and daily habits: emotional, mental and physical, and how these actions shape relationships with others. Whether seeking to enhance communication with loved ones, establish boundaries or foster greater self-love and acceptance, what she references as 'The Love Habit' is a persistent commitment to prioritizing mind, body and spirit by aligning oneself with appreciation, peace and joy above all else in this, her ninth book.
"While many of us understand effects of unhealthy relationships, we're often clueless about how to truly break free of them. Until we understand why people behave the way they do, and that we subconsciously teach others how to treat us, we're powerless to transform this important area of our lives," says Rainie, life coach, president/CEO of Love Book Store LLC and host of The Rainie Howard Show podcast, which spotlights personal development, mental health issues and advice.
"My book empowers readers with a growth mindset to become the architect of their own destiny."
Rainie's prior books cover topics regarding discovering one's purpose, spiritual growth, being addicted to pain within toxic relationships, healing from heartbreaks, dealing with loneliness, strengthening relationships, finding one's soulmate and daily choices associated with marriage.
What put Rainie on this current path? She shares that when she was 12 years old she was bullied by another girl on a school bus. The seed of self-doubt took root and grew. However, over time, she cemented a relationship with God. "During 2001, I was a college student leading a faith-based campus ministry," she states.
During 2008, she launched Sisters of Hope, a nonprofit to empower young girls dealing with the same low self-worth she once did. "That work expanded into serving women in the community, and I became a dedicated student of personal growth and mental wellness," she recalls.
In 2026, she predicts the biggest obstacles to having fulfilling, authentic relationships with others is transparency and emotional connection: "With so much noise online, authentic relationships require presence, empathy and self-awareness, qualities that can’t thrive when we’re constantly 'on.' Real fulfillment comes from slowing down, creating intentional time for deep conversations, and prioritizing emotional honesty over image."
Rainie recommends, "A powerful New Year’s resolution for self-image is to choose three actions you can control that would make you genuinely proud, and practice them daily. Start with a short journaling check-in and a few minutes of meditation to surface what you truly want. Then make one clear promise to yourself and keep it."
She says her personal goals for 2026 are centered on expansion, alignment and impact.
For those who want to work on themselves, and dive deeper, Rainie says the best place to start is by practicing The Love Habit, using the L.O.V.E. framework: Learn yourself; Optimize habits; Validate compassion; Experience life fully.
"I will no longer tolerate less than I deserve" is the life lesson shared by a St. Louis-based motivational speaker and author who keenly focuses on personal transformations.