So this post about self-love has been thought, rethought, questioned and thought some more. I thought that I couldn't find the right words to describe it and I'm still not completely sure if I am accurate enough, but my brief message and the words of another which follows, sums up a value system that unfortunately has not been espoused enough in our upbringing.
Self-love isn't the same as vanity, ego, aloofness or conceit, but it relates to the mental awareness and acceptance that you are worthy of happiness, worthy of feeling your emotions, worthy of receiving love and worthy of giving love.
Often it is only after much external and internal damage, self doubt and harm do we finally learn overtime the true meaning of loving oneself, knowing that anyone or anything that undermines this love shouldn't play a major role in it.
To our boys who are are brought up to be strong, hard and sometimes unfeeling, but seldom encouraged to 'feel' emotions other than anger.
To the adults it is never too late to develop self-love, each and everyday work on loving yourself, no matter the doubt, circumstance, issue, hurt or mistake...YOU ARE WORTHY OF LOVING YOU!
So as I embrace my self-love, I will continue everyday to remind myself, my children, loved ones, friends and anyone else I meet that "You are all worthy of self-love, because there is no one else on this earth who can give and receive this love better than you can."
The poem below was read by Charlie Chaplin on his 70th birthday(April 16, 1959)
Also view it in video format
As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth. Today, I know, this is AUTHENTICITY.
As I began to love myself I understood how much it can offend somebody as I try to force my desires on this person, even though I knew the time was not right and the person was not ready for it, and even though this person was me. Today I call it RESPECT.
As I began to love myself I stopped craving for a different life, and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow. Today I call it MATURITY.
As I began to love myself I understood that at any circumstance, I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens at the exactly right moment, so I could be calm. Today I call it SELF-CONFIDENCE.
As I began to love myself I quit steeling my own time, and I stopped designing huge projects for the future. Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, things I love to do and that make my heart cheer, and I do them in my own way and in my own rhythm. Today I call it SIMPLICITY.
As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is no good for my health – food, people, things, situations, and everything that drew me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism.Today I know it is LOVE OF ONESELF.
As I began to love myself I quit trying to always be right, and ever since I was wrong less of the time. Today I discovered that is MODESTY.
As I began to love myself I refused to go on living in the past and worry about the future. Now, I only live for the moment, where EVERYTHING is happening. Today I live each day, day by day, and I call it FULFILLMENT.
As I began to love myself I recognized that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick. But As I connected it to my heart, my mind became a valuable ally. Today I call this connection WISDOM OF THE HEART.
We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problems with ourselves or others. Even stars collide, and out of their crashing new worlds are born. Today I know THAT IS LIFE !
P.S. If you struggle with self love motivation like I do at times, here's another video that can help in giving you some push, THE REST IS UP TO YOU.
