Let’s get right to the heart of it: loving you is important.

In fact it’s so important that accepting and loving others is nigh on impossible to do without love and acceptance of self.

Remember when you have had moments of feeling enough; of feeling loved; of feeling mature and accomplished and supported?

How did you treat people, or how do you think you would have treated people when you were in that beloved space? Would you be better at holding healthy boundaries? Listening with your full attention? Validating another’s need to feel that someone really cares about them?

Now think of a time you felt less than good about yourself; maybe you felt failed or guilty or forgotten or worse, maybe you felt that grand deception of being flawed or shamed?

How did, or would you treat others when you are in that mental and emotional wasteland? It’s not a pretty thought is it?

So why do we get mixed-up about self-love? We think it might be wrong or prideful or conceited or arrogant to say, “I like myself! I love myself!”?

I believe that pride and conceit and arrogance are mostly the outcome of self-criticism, of feeling less-than and needing to prove ourselves. The faulty belief that love and acceptance are limited! Competition. There’s not enough to go around. 

What do you think?

Can you say the words to yourself, I like myself, I love myself, and mean it?

Go ahead, give it a try! Give the gift of kindness and compassion to yourself this month! In your thoughts and words, be true to yourself. Say words that will support and uplift your mind, that will encourage you and propel you forward.

Because that forward movement will be loving, kind and gentle. It will be giving from fullness. 

No need to be on the warpath of proof. {I have learned this through painful experience!}

Already, you are worthwhile; already you are valued; already you are capable; already you are bright; already you are the unique soul that is giving to the world exactly those things that only you can give!

I thank God for you. For your contributions. For your desires to give!

I pray He will walk beside you as you continue to cultivate self-love and respect, and that He will inspire you to know if or when you may need extra support from a trusted counselor or friend.

I pray that the love and peace we cultivate within ourselves will pour out onto our children and spouses in smiles, and be the benediction they need today.

Much love,
Jacque

P.S. Being self-critical as a means of “keeping yourself inline” doesn’t work. That is a false notion! Better to do our best to emulate the Godly correction we receive when we ask and then listen…it is still and small and kind, gentle and FIRM and full of love and hope and encouragement to do better.