Start by loving yourself from "summary" of Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott
I used to think that loving yourself was some kind of cop-out, a way to avoid facing the real work of trying to be a better person. It seemed indulgent, selfish even. But then I started to realize that the opposite was true. If you can't love yourself, how can you truly love anyone else? How can you be kind or generous or forgiving if you are constantly beating yourself up inside?It's not about being narcissistic or self-absorbed. It's about recognizing your own worth and treating yourself with the same compassion and understanding that you would show to a friend in need. It's about being your own best friend, your own cheerleader, your own source of strength and comfort. When you start by loving yourself, everything else falls into place. You start to see yourself as worthy of love and respect, and you stop looking for validation from others. You become more resilient in the face of criticism or rejection, because you know that your worth doesn't depend on what anyone else thinks of you. Loving yourself doesn't mean that you think you're perfect or that you never make mistakes. It means accepting yourself as you are, flaws and all, and recognizing that you are deserving of love and forgiveness just like everyone else. It's about being kind to yourself, even when you mess up, and giving yourself the grace to start over again. So start by loving yourself. Treat yourself with the same kindness and compassion that you would show to a friend. Forgive yourself for your past mistakes and shortcomings. Value yourself for who you are, not for what you do or how you look. When you love yourself first, everything else in life becomes a little bit easier.
Similar Posts
Stay true to your values and beliefs, even in challenging times
Remaining steadfast in our values and beliefs is crucial, especially when faced with difficult circumstances. It is during chal...
Connect with your inner self through meditation and reflection
When we slow down and create space in our lives, we give ourselves the opportunity to connect with our inner selves. This conne...
Embrace your uniqueness
When we embrace our uniqueness, we allow ourselves to fully express who we are without feeling the need to conform to society's...
Embrace the fire within as a source of strength and inspiration
In our journey through life, we often encounter challenges and obstacles that can leave us feeling overwhelmed and defeated. It...
Boundaries protect against emotional manipulation
Boundaries are like emotional fences that protect us from being taken advantage of by others. They act as a barrier between our...
Let go of attachment to expectations for true freedom
Attachment to expectations often leads to disappointment and suffering. When we cling to specific outcomes, we create a prison ...
Healing from past trauma takes time and effort
Healing from past trauma is not a simple task that can be accomplished quickly or easily. It requires a significant amount of t...
Intimacy is about depth, not surfacelevel interactions
Intimacy is not something that can be superficially experienced. It is not about the external display of affection or the physi...
Conquering selfdoubt and negative thoughts
The battle against self-doubt and negative thoughts is an ongoing struggle for many of us. These destructive forces can creep i...
Selfdiscovery is a journey
Selfdiscovery is not a destination that one can reach in a single leap. It is a continuous journey that requires patience, refl...