"All you need is love." The Beatles knew what was up! Love really is all you need... self-love, that is.
The foundation of a happy life, healthy relationships, and achieving every bit of greatness you were put onto this earth for does not exist anywhere externally. It's all right inside! Tapping into love of self is what allows us to opens doors to infinite possibilities. Everything we've created in our outside world is a reflection of what is going on with us internally. So, if you have a tough time fully accepting and loving yourself because of past circumstances, or due to holding yourself up to ridiculous high standards, or because you don't believe the truth that you are meant to shine, than the world around you is going to reflect as such. When self-love is missing, it manifests into negative actions and emotions like insecurity, feelings of lacking, and unhealthy comparison to others.
Inner-peace, on the other hand, is the catalyst to rocking your outside world in a totally awesome way. Imagine being completely accepting of yourself, including all of your flaws and past mistakes: "We're not here to be perfect, we're here to live and to feel and to learn and to grow!" Imagine being super-confident in your abilities and embracing the gifts that you have: "We all have our own unique talents that can literally change the world." Imagine not easily being swayed by the opinion of others, I mean literally not caring what anybody else says or thinks because it's just their opinion, which has nothing to do with you: "You know what you were born to do and nothing is going to stop you." This is self-love, baby!
Self-Love is not the same thing as vanity. But, we often get it twisted! Vanity and narcissism are actually the opposite of self-love, as they are based in fear and lack. It is when the ego mind wants to make you feel special or better than others and thus creates illusions to support the idea. It's when motivation comes from hopes of gaining attention or acceptance rather than coming from the heart and done with pure intentions. Confident people who love themselves unconditionally do not think they are better than anybody else. Contrarily, they tend to see the beauty and oneness in all. Having true love and acceptance of self allows you to love and accept others more deeply, as well as receive love more fully.
If you want to give yourself all the love you deserve, here are some tips to put into practice:
- Believe this: You are meant to shine! Many walk through life blending in, afraid to tap into their full potential, and living watered-down versions of who they are meant to be. It is true that our biggest fear is not being inadequate but rather of being powerful beyond measure. We all have our own unique gifts to offer the world -- let 'em out!
Having self-love makes you more resilient and able to bounce back from a stumble. It really is the cornerstone to allowing your dreams to come alive, to attracting healthy relationships, and to living a full life. As the Buddha said, "You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." And you do. Until next time... wishing you much love of self!
Want more self-love inspiration and other feel-good vibes? Let's connect on my Facebook page - I always love to hear from you! You can also sign up for my free Dawnsense newletter with blogs, videos, and other goodies to help you live your most inspired life!
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