Love yourself

Ultimately, everything comes down to loving yourself. How you treat yourself, how you care for your body, how you nuture your heart and soul, how you expand your mind, how you feel about and treat others, and even your capacity to love others.

If you don’t love yourself, fully and with abandon, none of the other things will fall in line as beautifully as they can nor will you reach your fullest potential as a human being.

When we are born, we are primed and ready to receive love, from ourselves and from others. In fact, we require it to survive.

And then life begins to take swipes at us. Some poor souls experience the harshness of life and lack of love even as babies and young children. Others take more whacks as they grow older. Many, many people in this world – far too many – are hurt and damaged in ways that have taught them not to love themselves. Tragic, but reversible, if you wish to make changes in your life.

But where to begin?

Perhaps it’s not a simple or direct path – more like peeling away the layers of an onion – but definitely a path that each and every one of us can and should embark upon.

Maybe we just begin with being kinder to ourselves. Recognizing our own worth. And investing in ourselves. Or perhaps begin a spiritual journey to discover your truth, whatever that may be. Begin to love and appreciate your flaws and your quirky self. It’s what makes you uniquely you.

Tell yourself aloud and in your head, “I love you!” Say it again and again, like a beautiful mantra.

If that sounds hokey or strange, read “Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It” by Kamal Ravikant.

It’s a quick, yet potentially life-changing read.

Most of all, take care of you. You’re the only you there is, and that makes you very special. So love yourself. And if you don’t know how, learn to love yourself. It will make you a better person and the world a better place.