Let Us Love Ourselves Enough

by Willowbei Eversole

It all starts with love. It starts and ends with love, and love is in the middle. If we cannot love ourselves how can we love others?   If we deny our inner beauty how can we see the beauty around us? If we fail to appreciate both our differences and our Oneness how can we fully appreciate life?

It all starts with love. Loving ourselves is one of the greatest gifts we can give the world. Loving ourselves is one of the most powerful healing tools available to us. Loving ourselves is a grand and wonderful foundation for loving life, loving our beautiful planet and loving all creation.

It all starts with love, yet how many of us were taught that loving ourselves was a selfish act? How many of us were raised to believe that we must love others and deny ourselves? In truth, when we truly love ourselves we have a greater and more expanded ability to love others.

It all starts with love. My love of myself helps me see the world around me as loving, compassionate, holy and safe. Because I am safe within myself I create a safe and loving world in which to live. Because I love myself I look at all life as precious and I clearly see my connection to all life. When I love myself I do my best not to throw physical, psychic or emotional garbage at myself or others.

When we love ourselves we know we are inseparably connected to all life. We cherish and care for this wonderful Earth that sustains us. We find ways to help our planet and our fellow journeyers on the planet. We reduce, reuse and recycle to the best of our ability. We open to the wonderful possibilities available to us as we help create a move harmonious world, individually and collectively.

When we love ourselves we are as conscious as we can be in any given moment. We are as alive and as aware as our current abilities allow. We do what we can to heal ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We move in ways that honor, sustain and foster life, in all its many and varied forms.

When we love ourselves we do not judge ourselves or other, we hold no grudges, we covet nothing, we see value in all creation and we know (deeply know) that we are One. We know that this Oneness is unlimited and available to all.

As the fullness of summer presents itself, let us feel the fullness of our hearts and open to our inner truth. Let us love ourselves enough to "walk a mile in another's shoes." Let us love ourselves enough to be kind to each other. Let us love ourselves enough to open our hearts to peace and understanding. Let us love ourselves enough to heal ourselves and our planet. We can do it, one loving person (one loving soul) at a time. It all starts with love.

Willowbei Eversole is a published author and poet from Royal Oak, MI. ObeiLet@aol.com