We cannot truly love others unless we love ourselves.
Please discuss. How does this play out in life?
I’ll start us out. Many of us are hard on ourselves, harder than we would be on someone else. Our perceived flaws are magnified to us, and we can’t run away from them or dampen or drown them out in indulgence. What we might overlook or simply be annoyed by in others can feel inexcusable in ourselves.
We believe in consideration, kindness, and forgiveness, but find it easier to apply externally than internally. We taker a firmer line with ourselves and it seems easy to tend to others before we care for ourselves. We may tell ourselves that it is charitable or godly to put others first, but often we’re tricking ourselves into a form of self-abuse, overlaid with a patina of benevolence. We fail to recognize that in divinely interconnection creation, all are equal, perfect, and worthy, including us.
Today’s message reminds me that when I disrespect myself, I disrespect divine creation. I cannot omit to love myself without loving everyone and everything else less. When I acknowledge the divine in myself and treat myself with caring and respect, I strengthen my ability to love in general. The more I love myself, the more I love the world.
How about you? How does self-love strengthen you?