Art of loving your self

If you were asked, ‘Do you love yourself’, for many the answer will be ‘yes’. But how many of you often lay awake in bed at night feeling low, depressed, sad, stressed? And how many of you have thoughts such as “I want to be loved and accepted more” or “I am not worthy enough” or “I wish to have a life like xyz” and so on?

Then let me tell you my dear ones, you are far from truly loving yourself. What if I told you that your idea of love is actually conditional?

For example, do you tend to love and accept yourself only if you are successful in achieving something or if someone appreciates you after you lose weight? We are indeed our worst critics and yet, we want others to love and accept us the way we are. Otherwise, we find faults with them as well.

To begin with, you have to accept yourself for who you are inside out. Be aware that you are unique and there is not a single person on this planet who is exactly like you. Stop comparing yourself to others as each one of us experiences unique situations  according to the choices that we have made in this life.

The true power lies within us, not outside us. It’s all about what you think of yourself rather than what others think of you. Many people have low self-esteem because they are always waiting for external approval. They are always willing to please everyone but themselves.

Others’ opinion is not the ultimate truth, it’s only coming from their own perception. You can truly start living when you give up the idea of perfection and not being so hard on yourself.

Some of the people who might look perfect to you, like movie stars and celebrities may be dealing with huge insecurities and depression. 

So it is time to change your perception. Learn to love and accept your flaws as much as you accept your assets. The darkness is as important as the light. Embrace it because that is where your real power lies.

Before you love another person, you have to realise that love cannot flow through you if you don’t feel it for yourself. That is the reason why most people feel empty in relationships today. Would you ever ask a needy person for food or money? Of course not. This also applies to love. You have to have enough love for yourself before you give it to another person. 

The more you start accepting and loving yourself truly, the more open you become to appreciating others around you and vice versa. 

Pause, take a minute and think — isn’t it an overwhelming feeling to be alive? There are million souls waiting to be born.  The real purpose of life is to truly love and live. But are we truly living or simply existing? 

The key is to keep the inner child alive, be more playful and laugh more, even when things look difficult. Don’t take life so seriously. Be the change you want to see in this world. Are you ready?

Ruhi is an aura reader and counsellor. You can contact her at sairuhsai@gmail.com