{"id":443,"date":"2014-08-06T11:51:29","date_gmt":"2014-08-06T11:51:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/healingandtransformation\/?p=443"},"modified":"2014-08-06T11:51:29","modified_gmt":"2014-08-06T11:51:29","slug":"when-i-started-to-love-myself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/healingandtransformation\/2014\/08\/when-i-started-to-love-myself.html","title":{"rendered":"When I Started to Love Myself"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"flickr\"<\/a>
Source: Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What would happen if we loved ourselves?\u00a0What will happen when we start to love ourselves…<\/p>\n

Perhaps the most important personal growth topic that exists! Imagine actually really deeply fully and totally loving yourself.<\/strong> You know why? ‘Cos you deserve it in every way!<\/p>\n

Yes! You deserve to be loved, to love, and to bask in the glory of being the only “you” in the entire universe!<\/p>\n

As the Buddha taught ~ \u201cYou can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I’m sharing amazing prose by my beautiful friend, Tamara Critch who contemplates this idea. I first heard these words read to me in the midst of a meditation and felt deeply moved and enriched by it. I hope you enjoy:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I started loving myself
\nAt any given opportunity, I see, I am at the right place at the right time.
\nEverything happens for good reason and I can be calm and still have faith, even when things don\u2019t always work out how I\u2019d like.
\nNow I know this is: TRUST.<\/p>\n

When I started loving myself
\nIt’s uncomfortable to try and force desire on others,
\nespecially when the time is not right or the person is not ready,
\neven though this person is mostly me.
\nNow I know this is: LETTING GO.<\/p>\n

When I started loving myself
\nI recognize emotional pain and grief felt in my body are simply warnings for me not to live against my own truth and set healthy boundaries.
\nNow I know this is: AUTHENTICITY.<\/p>\n

When I started loving myself
\nI stopped longing for another life or to be someone else
\nand see that everything around me is an opportunity for growth.
\nNow I know this is: WISDOM.<\/p>\n

When I started loving myself
\nI stopped depriving myself of free time, that\u2019s just for me
\nNo longer concocting future projects, I do what makes my heart laugh, that is fun and full of joy.
\nIn my way and in my time.
\nNow I know this is: SINCERITY.<\/p>\n

When I started loving myself
\nI stopped needing to always be right and now embrace the teachings of being wrong and not taking failure as anything personal
\nwhilst remain patient.
\nNow I know this is: HUMILITY.<\/p>\n

When I started loving myself
\nI refused to live in the past or worry about my future.
\nNow I live only in this moment ,where it all takes place and observe the body and how it’s feeling as it is without judgment.
\nNow I know this is: MINDFULNESS.<\/p>\n

When I started loving myself
\nI realized that thinking creates reality and the many things I can\u2019t change and even though being positive will not guarantee bad things won’t happen,
\nit just helps the journey to be more enjoyable
\nand that makes all the difference.
\nNow I know this is: HAPPINESS.<\/p>\n

When I started loving myself\"iloveme\"<\/a>
\nMy body started to sing and vibrate health
\nwhen I forgave that person, cells began to regenerate, healing in itself. The sweet surrender to the noise existing outside happening
\ndoesn\u2019t need to be taken within.
\nNow I know this is: GRACE.<\/p>\n

When I started loving myself
\nI experienced so much love and magic in my life and miracles began to happen when I never expected them.
\nI then saw that love is not something I do or earn.
\nIt’s something I allow.
\nI allow love to love me.
\nNow I know this is: GRATITUDE.\u201d<\/p>\n

~ Tamara Critch, http:\/\/mywellnessworx.wordpress.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

___________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

What do you think? Feel free to comment down below!
You are awesome as you are, and I love you!<\/em><\/p>\n

And if you love me back, please click \u2018share\u2019 up at the top!
\n
David G. Arenson ND<\/strong>, Australia’s Leading\u00a0Soul-Coach – Spiritual Teacher and Energy Healer
\nFind out more about me:\u00a0http:\/\/www.findshambhala.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Inquire about arranging a retreat:\u00a0http:\/\/www.mretreat.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

To\u00a0send a question<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0Q&A with David<\/strong>, please\u00a0email<\/em>\u00a0David –\u00a0david@mretreat.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What would happen if we loved ourselves?\u00a0What will happen when we start to love ourselves… Perhaps the most important personal growth topic that exists! Imagine actually really deeply fully and totally loving yourself. You know why? ‘Cos you deserve it in every way! Yes! You deserve to be loved, to love, and to bask in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":570,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[209,11,38,167,140,220,51,253,241,12],"tags":[359,361,356,764,76,357,360,25,358,354,355,110],"class_list":["post-443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-awakening","category-healing","category-inspiration","category-leadership","category-mindfulness","category-personal-growth","category-self-development","category-soul-coaching","category-spiritual","category-transformation","tag-authenticity","tag-buddha","tag-grace","tag-gratitude","tag-happiness","tag-humility","tag-letting-go","tag-self-love","tag-sincerity","tag-tamara-critch","tag-trust","tag-wisdom"],"yoast_head":"\nWhen I Started to Love Myself - Healing and Transformation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/healingandtransformation\/2014\/08\/when-i-started-to-love-myself.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"When I Started to Love Myself - Healing and Transformation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What would happen if we loved ourselves?\u00a0What will happen when we start to love ourselves… Perhaps the most important personal growth topic that exists! 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