Culturally we’ve designated Valentine’s Day as a day to celebrate the love we have for another. However, this February why don’t you celebrate the love you have for yourself?
You are worth your love and admiration. After all, if your cup’s not filled up with you own love what do you have to share with another?
We are often taught that our worth comes from being loved by another; that in order to feel fulfilled we need another’s love to be complete. That’s just not so! You are complete. You are loved. You are worthy.
“Loving yourself…does not mean being self-absorbed or narcissistic, or disregarding others. Rather it means welcoming yourself as the most honored guest in your own heart, a guest worthy of respect, a lovable companion.” ~ Margo Anand
If I told you your love for yourself is equally as valid as love that comes from another would you really believe that? Probably not. Our culture has lumped self-love and selfishness together and they are not the same at all. Selfishness is a lack of empathy and kindness while self-love is fueled by empathy and kindness.
When are you at your best – when you are feeling happy with yourself or when you are angry with yourself? If you want a life full of love and happiness then fill yourself with love and happiness.
“A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror.” ~ Ken Keyes
Here are three ways to make this February a self-love fest.
Love All of You
“Whatever you are doing, love yourself for doing it. Whatever you are feeling, love yourself for feeling it.” ~ Thaddeus Golas
“To accept ourselves as we are means to value our imperfections as much as our perfections.” ~ Sandra Bierig
Too often we like the aspects of ourselves we feel are strong and we despise the aspects of ourselves we feel are weak. This month commit yourself to embracing it all.
First, get a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. On the left list all the aspects of yourself you judge as “good”. On the right list all the aspects of yourself you judge as “bad”. Write down physical traits, emotional traits, strengths, weaknesses, successes, failures, the whole enchilada of good, bad, and ugly.
Secondly, read both columns out loud. By exposing what you usually keep hidden you diminish the shame you feel about these self-judgments.
Lastly, place your hand on your heart and say, “I am powerful, I am fearful, I am loving, I am judgmental, I am flawed, I am human. I accept and appreciate all of me. I am ever evolving and I give myself permission to love myself just as I am, in all ways.”
Love Your Love
“Your task is not to seek for Love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” ~ Rumi
“It’s not your job to like me…it’s MINE!” ~ Byron Katie
We all have a tendency to discount our own love, holding up another’s love as more valid or important. Please stop that! Starting today accept that you are the one you’ve been looking for.
When you give yourself love it is just as good as love that comes from someone else. Actually, if you really think about it who else could give you the love you need but yourself? Has there ever been someone who could read your mind and always knew what you needed, when you needed it, other than yourself?
You are your own beloved. Accepting and loving this about yourself frees you from the disappointment you chase when you make love someone else’s responsibility.
Love Your Greatness
“You are very powerful, provided you know how powerful you are.” ~ Yogi Bhajan
“Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one’s own sunshine.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
When you fully embrace all that you are and really believe that your self love is equally worthy, then you are ready to accept your greatness. We all have our own unique contribution and yours cannot be realized if you are your own worst enemy.
Meeting yourself every morning with love removes your inner barriers that block your innate gifts. Open your heart and the world opens up before you.
I’ve given you this poem by Marianne Williamson before, but it so appropriate I am repeating it.
Please know this poem is talking to you; you are using your self-judgments to dim the light you are in this world. This February love yourself enough to gift us all with the full measure of your beauty and light.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Abundant Love & Blessings,
Donna
Top Image Credit: Love Yourself by Viri G
by Heart Light Digital
