If Only We Loved Ourselves As Much

If only we loved ourselves as much as we want to be loved by someone else. If only we were as kind to ourselves as we want someone else to be kind to us. If only we liked and respected ourselves as much as we wish to be liked and respected by someone else. If only we took as much care of ourselves as we take care of others, and if only we took as much care of ourselves as we would like someone to take care of us...

How easy is it to come through for a friend in dire need? You find time to cook, or visit, or call, or take the kids, or whatever it is that friend needs. How hard is it to make time to come through for ourselves?

We go around our lives thinking of that "someone special" we want to be a part of our lives or the someone special we are already with and how we want them to love us, care for us, respect us, be kind to us...if only we loved ourselves as much.

Am I repeating myself here? Absolutely - we have not learned this yet! We think that perfect love is outside of ourselves, we think that protection is outside of ourselves, we think that comfort and care come from outside of ourselves, and none of it is outside of us at all - it is all within.

The love we receive and the love we give is in direct proportion to the love we are able to feel for (and direct towards) ourselves. That level at which we are willing to give to ourselves, that is the level at which we are able to receive from another person. We think if only she loved me more, if only he loved me better, and all the time it's our own ability to let the love in.

There is no way around this.

Think today of the love that you would really, really like from a friend, partner, spouse - and see if you can give yourself as much love. And then watch how it multiplies itself exponentially. It's like the light from a candle that suddenly springs into life when lit. Life is lit up by it. Darkness is dispelled. Everyone in the circumference is touched by it. And it can light an endless number of other candles without losing its own light.

Blessings.
- Darshan

© 2009 Darshan F Jessop