Three words hold the power to change the world.
These are three words that, if we felt them for even just a few moments a day, would smooth over the cracks and soothe our souls as we travel through this life of ours.
These are three words that we all need to hear and say.
I love you.
After coaching client after client, I'm convinced that feeling loved is an essential human need. Without it, we can’t survive. With it, we can heal so much of what hurts.
“How you love yourself is how you teach others to love you.”
–Rupi Kaur
Isn’t it what we all deeply crave to feel inside?
The good news is that we all can fulfill this need for ourselves. Why do we often look outside ourselves for what we can find within?
Loving oneself is where it all begins. I believe that it is our ability to love ourselves that ultimately attracts another’s love. Love grows.
When I think of loving myself, I also come to the word acceptance. A big part of loving myself is accepting myself and appreciating who I am right now. I can get lost in the striving for ‘more’ – seeking the “new and improved me” – the me I am striving to become. The me I want you to see and recognize.
"The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves."
–Victor Hugo
While I think becoming is a never–ending process, it gives me hope that even at my age (in my 60s), I am continuing to become myself. I continue to grow and learn.
I am continuing to discover more love for myself - and the world around me.
Yes, lately, it is so very hard to love our world. All the awful things happening both here and abroad.
Yet, after I take a moment to pause, I catch my breath. I take a nice slow breathe in and out. It is then I can settle into the balance of loving and accepting.
I can fill my heart with love and let it shine outward, hoping it reaches those who need it.
I imagine love surrounding me, my family, street, town, state, country, and eventually the world, wrapped and soaked in love.
I smile from the inside. You can, too.
"Love is the whole thing. We are only pieces."
—Rumi
So, let me be the one today to tell you that I love you.
Breathe that in.
Breathe that out.
We all deserve it.
And if you want a challenge – tell it to yourself! Bonus points if you can say I love you out loud to yourself, looking right into your eyes in the mirror!
Let me know if you took the challenge and how it felt!
Such a simple powerful reminder to actively love ourselves! Thanks Laurie.
Thank you Laurie. I needed this reminder. It's one of the hardest things for me and I'm sure others.