Karen Restivo
In Other Words....
Here are a few recognizable adages revealing the secret to finding love in your life:
“To love others you must first love yourself” (Leo Buscaglia),
“How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you” (Rupi Kaur),
“We accept the love we think we deserve” (Stephen Chbosky).
For many, love seems like the mirage that’s just ahead of you; yet you’re never able to grasp it.
Truth is, it’s an inside job.
Ironically, essential knowledge on the understanding and practice of self-love never showed up in our educational curriculum.
Gagan Bhandral, author of Learn to Love Yourself First Before Loving Others,” returns the horse before the cart in figuring out the initial steps.
“The ability to build and maintain satisfying connections with others can be considerably improved by having a positive relationship with oneself….”
Bhandral shares benefits of learning to love yourself:
Self-worth and assurance: When you love yourself, you come to understand your own worth and gain confidence.
Boundaries and self-respect: Loving yourself entails knowing your worth in relationships and establishing appropriate boundaries.
You gain the ability to express your needs, set limits, and make decisions that are in line with your wellbeing.
Emotional Health: By practicing self-love, you can establish a loving and understanding connection with your emotions.
Genuineness and acceptance: When you love yourself, you accept the whole of who you are, including your flaws, strengths, and defects.
This self-acceptance enables you to present yourself in relationships genuinely, building real connections and drawing in companions who value you for who you are.
Less reliance on other people: Loving yourself makes you less reliant on other people for approval and fulfilment, which can foster heathier and more harmonious relationships.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but the helpful insights above would have come in handy while navigating adolescents when we wore our hearts on our sleeves permitting others to determine our value.
Bhandral concludes, “It’s crucial to remember that developing self-love is a lifetime process that may require self-examination, self-reflection, and self-care activities.”
In other words, we are a continuous work in progress; every day brings another opportunity to refine the skill of embracing ourselves, learning from our mistakes and unfolding our authentic and loveable selves.
Karenrestivo57@gmail.com