Self-love is a state of appreciation for oneself that grows from actions that support our physical, psychological and spiritual growth. Self-love means having a high regard for your own well-being and happiness. Self-love means taking care of your own needs and not sacrificing your well-being to please others. Self-love is dynamic; it grows through actions that mature us. When we act in ways that expand self-love in ourselves, we begin to accept much better our weaknesses as well as our strengths, have less need to explain away our shortcomings, have compassion for ourselves as human beings struggling to find personal meaning, are more centred in our life purpose and values, and expect living fulfilment through our own efforts.
The more self-love we have, the more we can attract people and circumstances that support our well-being. It influences who you pick for a mate, the image you project at work, and how you cope with the problems in your life. These are but a few benefits of self-love.
This year I made self-love my theme. For me to grow in loving and accepting myself completely and unconditionally. It’s also an area I wish to focus on with my clients because we don’t see the world as it is, we see the world as WE are. Read that last phrase again. It makes all the difference.
As I was listening to a love song one day, I got to thinking – most love songs operate on the premise of unconditional love. I should qualify that statement though – I enjoy listening to songs with meaningful lyrics, not rubbish songs with repetitive nonsensical lyrics.
Back to my thoughts. What if I could sing a love song to myself, and mean every word and phrase? Imagine the intensity of that love. That’s powerful affirmation that I am worthy of love, that I deserve it. When I see this within me, the world sees it too. And the law of attraction makes it be that I’d attract the same. So the internal need for love is taken care of with self love (most important) and the external need is taken care of by those I attract into my life.
I’ll leave you with lyrics to the song that led to this chain of thoughts. It’s called ‘I see the light’ from the animated movie Rapunzel, sung by Mandy More and Zachary Levi.
All those days watching from the windows
All those years outside looking in
All that time never even knowing
Just how blind I’ve been
Now I’m here blinking in the starlight
Now I’m here suddenly I see
Standing here it’s all so clear
I’m where I’m meant to beAnd at last I see the light
And it’s like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it’s like the sky is new
And it’s warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once everything looks different
Now that I see you.
Truly, the world shifts when we see, accept and love ourselves for who we truly are.
