love yourself

Love your self. Such a simple sounding sentence, yet turns out it to be one of the toughest things to do on most days. Do you find it difficult too?

I don't think it was this way for me earlier. But as I grow older, I find myself putting more conditions on myself. If I get a good job, I can love myself; if I can keep my partner happy, I can love myself; if I quit complaining, if I spend more time with my parents, if I get more clients, if I socialise more...if I this, if I that…you get the drift right?

The question is, do I need to be a certain way to love myself? Can't I just relax about who I am, accept me for the person I am? After all, I do it all the time for my counselling clients. Well, I know the answer. And sadly, even though it's a yes, it always feels like a no.

It could be because I am my strongest critic. Which is good in a way. But equally important is to be my own strongest champion. Because if I can't champion my own cause, who will? If I am not convinced that I am loveable, how can somebody else be convinced to love me? This isn't something we are new to. It's a pretty old concept to be honest. Nevertheless, a concept we need to remind ourselves of time and again.

It's easy to find fault in yourself. Easier still to resign to guilt. Knowing all these faults, yet believing that there is enough good in you to be loved for - that's not so easy! Despite being so good for you, it's so difficult to just BE. I know, I agree. But still, I am going to try this. I hope you do too.