Loving You for Who You Are

I'd like to take this time to remind you to love the most important person in your world; YOU!

YES YOU are the most important person you can love, because if you don't love who you are, how can you expect anyone else to love you, or to feel the love that's in your heart? Empty vessels can't fill others' pitchers, so take some time right now to remind yourself how great you are!

What? You're not feeling the love? You're thinking about all the things you CAN'T do? Forget about 'em!

Love you for who you are, not who you're not.

Let's think about this a little more, in terms of dollars and cents, instead of just emotions. I know you have something you are good at. If I had to guess, you probably have quite a few things you are really good, no that you're GREAT, at. And people count on you to do those things you're great at. The more often you can do those things you're great at, the more money you can make. Nobody is going to pay you to be mediocre at something, they're going to pay you for making it great!

Following me so far?

So you've got those things you're good at, and you get paid to do them, and you don't get paid to do the things you're not so good at. If money is one measure of the value of your work, then what you're getting paid to do is valuable, and important, and worthwhile. And what you're not getting paid to do is unimportant, because it's not valuable, and obviously not important for YOU to do.

Now think about how you feel about yourself. Are you valuing those things you're great at? Do you love yourself enough to let those things you stink at pass you by, or to find someone who can help you complete your world? After all, nobody is great at everything!

Focus on the things you ARE great at! Love yourself for who you ARE, for what you HAVE, and stop worrying so much about who you are not. Whatever is getting your focus is what is driving your thoughts, feelings and emotions. Why not focus on something that you do GREAT and stop focusing on that which drains you.

ACTION STEP: Take 5 minutes right now and right down all the things you're great at. Tuck it away in your wallet or purse. Next time you are feeling drained, pull it out and remind yourself that you are great because of these things.

Love yourself for who you are, because you are GREAT!

Comments

[Lani Anglin-Rosales]

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I LOVE this article, Phil- it plays right into my current personal theme song that I'm playing on the iPod over and over again (Kanye West's Everything I'm Not- just ignore the crazy guy and listen to the lyrics)... http://youtube.com/watch?v=QDbkkB7VA4k

People get so hung up on what they're not that they don't remember to take your advice and write down (and focus on) what they ARE. :)
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[Debra Estep]

The bottom line of loving one's self comes down
to self-esteem.

I am an expert on having totally no self esteem
to raising my self esteem to a much higher level.

If you've never had to even think about your
personal self esteem, count yourself blessed.

To those of you who have traveled a similar life
path to mine, you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about.

Great article Phil, because we do INDEED need
to love ourselves first.

I'm going to paraphrase a quote I read someplace...

Self worth is when you KNOW your own value.
When you only find your value in what others say about you, that is other worth.

xo xo
Deb Estep

[Hillbillyphd]

Good stuff Phil. We often get caught up with comparing ourselves to others. You point out the power of focusing on our strengths rather than perceived weakneses. I have really learned the value of seeing failures and setbacks as opportunities to get better. We know better what to do the next time each time we come up short. In many ways our shortcomings are our strengths. They are what make us unique and special. You are right to say that we should focus on what we are great at, but I also think we should celebrate when we fail. This is what we call experience. Loathing our failures and setbacks is where the problems arise. If we see setbacks as only bad or something to be avoided then we fail to learn and grow. Viewing our setbacks as only problems will make us feel downtrodden and as though we are personally a failure. Seeing our setbacks as learning opportunities will help us grow stronger. You are so right in the theme of your life. "Make It Great". We all will do well to live by that motto because the seeds of greatness live in all our abilities. Thanks and continue to "Make It Great"

[Corinne Edwards]

Phil, this is one of your great articles!

I think one of our main failings is that we think if something is easy for us, it does not count.

My sister is an example of this. If you discuss a problem with her, she get right to the core of it and comes up with a solution. (even if you don't like it!)

When I tell her how valuable this is, she always says,
"Oh, everybody can do that!"

Because it is easy for her, she never takes credit for this ability.

[Patricia - Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworker]

Phil, I have found that this is so true for me. When I learned about loving myself, I had to learn how to start taking care of my needs so that I had the strength to be there for my family. A friend once told me to stop comparing my insides to everybody else's outsides. We compare ourselves and what we believe about ourselves with the image that others project of themselves because we don't see that the other person thinks the same things about themselves that we do about ourselves. Outside appearances aren't always accurate.

[Tim]

Good article Phil and soooo true. Let me add an additional tip if I may. If you have a family member that is down or beats themselves up a lot and you want to help them, try this out. Ask every other familymember to write down what they love about them. Then ask their friends and collegues and anybodyu else that you can think of. Does it take some time and effort? Of course it does, but they're worth it :-)

Have a poor memories for insults and a good memory for compliments also helps.

[Stephen Hopson]

Phil:

That's got to be one of the most powerful articles I've read in quite some time. It's so true - loving yourself for who you are. That really goes in deep.

And it's not always easy! Thanks for the reminder. It's very important to remember what you said about loving ourselves.

[Tim]

Phil:

I just wanted to let you know that your post hit me at a moment when I really needed to read it. Thank you for the positive words.

Tim

[Joseph Bernard]

Self-love is the absolute most important secret there is to success. The reason it is a secret is because we are not taught about self-love and if anything we are taught that self-love is not something we should focus on. This misperception comes from people who do not love themselves.

I have been writing about self-love lately as a way to invite that in my reader and to remind myself of the importance of having an open heart for myself.

Excellent article and so important.

Joseph
www.ExploreLifeBlog.com
www.Peace-Together.com