Thinking about love…

Loving is about giving ourselves wholeheartedly. Caring about another deeply under all circumstances. In sickness and in health, whether they have done something brilliant or dumb.  We celebrate when they are triumphant, are proud and happy for them as we see them grow.  Our heart breaks when they are sad.  We try to be wise and encouraging in our words with these people we love because we really care for them and want them to thrive. We want to make sure they know how loved they are. The countless times, we go out of our way to assist in whatever is needed for them to succeed or have a pleasant experience. We understand and forgive when they are not so great and move on unwavering in our support, love, and confidence in them.

Do I love myself this way? I may, but I really don’t show it well. Do you? I hope you do.  I could do much better in this regard. Thinking of how I am with my son made me realize I should be towards myself as I am with him. So it got me to thinking.  What does it take to kindly love myself? Well, what it takes to love someone else.  This is what I came up with on how to love myself.

To me, part of loving is about being easy-going, encouraging, joyful, being silly, and full of care. It is to be interested in me and respect my freedom to be who I am now and who I am growing to be. Having the presence of mind to recognize my value. To want what is best for me and do my best for myself.  Being committed to what I love, in what I enjoy, in what makes me happy and grow. Being fully invested in my well-being and protective of it. Being faithful to myself, to what is important to me.  Being faithful to myself is being true to who I know I am and my growth. Living my truth and allowing no others’ opinions affect me in devaluing o destabilizing me. Not being tempted to leave myself behind for anyone. Thinking of this, I can feel the strength of having my own back and the excitement of being fully engaged with my life.

It also means forgiving myself and not bringing up past mistakes, making myself feel bad. To remember the lessons learned and keep walking forward. Accepting the growth process and trusting myself to do better next time.

Loving and accepting ourselves creates a comfortable open space within- to be yourself as you want to be and to grow.  You have been and will be with yourself forever; shouldn’t you be your best ally, fun, loving, faithful friend.  Yes! We should love ourselves madly.

And as everything to do with love and kindness, this will only expand our hearts to share ourselves with others.