Know what counts, and what doesn’t. Trying to please others all the time doesn’t count if you haven’t looked after yourself. Loving yourself means supporting yourself. Many of us have been taught to be self-reliant, and self-sufficient. Once we mature our ego takes over and then we can’t ask for help because it won’t let us. The truth is that while we all need to strive for independence from our families and friends and make it on our own. We are being strong when we ask for help when we need it. We are just feeding our ego when we try to do everything on our own. So we must realize that some things are important, some are not, and loving yourself is of primary importance as you move through your life.
Loving yourself allows you to grow and develop naturally. It allows you to develop a strong self-esteem. One that knows what it will accept in life and love. One that can own up to its mistakes and correct them. So self-love matters. We must accept our current circumstances; that what is done is done. You can’t go back and change anything, so you must work with what you have. It doesn’t mean you have to stay there…..but before you can move on you must accept your reality. Because you can use the lessons from your mistakes to fuel a beautiful future if you will accept them in the present moment. Then you can lovingly change the circumstances in your world as you move forward.
Louise Hay said “Love yourself now, don’t wait until you get it right. Dissatisfaction with yourself is a habit pattern. If you can be satisfied with yourself now, if you can love and approve of yourself now, then when good comes into your life, you will be able to enjoy it. You can’t learn about life for another person. Everyone has to learn his or her particular lessons. All you can do is learn for yourself, and loving yourself is the first step, so you are not brought down by other people’s destructive behaviour. If you are in a negative situation…..then you need to love yourself enough to move away. Unconditional love is the goal I think we have come here to attain. It begins with self-acceptance and self-love.”