Over the past few weeks, on my personal blog we have embarked on a journey of renewal. As part of the process, we have embraced the love in this life, the everyday miracles that are revealed, letting go of the past in order to move forward and now one of the most essential steps – Loving yourself.
Loving ourselves is a novel concept, yet so many of us, cannot see past the imperfections.
What forms this perception? Why do outward influences shape how we see ourselves?
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
Love God first, then Love your neighbor as yourself.
Neighbor as yourself….
This statement implies that we must love ourselves first.
Do you know how to love yourself?
After 37 years, I am finally learning how to love myself. It seems like so much time has passed, and am finally discovering, that I have not loved myself in the way that I deserve.
God doesn’t see our imperfections, He says we are beautifully made.
Why can we not see the good in ourselves before we pick away at what we perceive to be the bad?
“You are not pretty, you are falling short as a mom or dad, it is not enough, you can do better, you don’t look right, they are talking about me, you can be a better sister, friend, mother, dad….”
The lies, the list can go on if we allow it. Before we know it, it shapes, defines and we are no longer the person that we were meant to be. The person God made us to be.
He wants us to see the light, and to feel light. To feel love, warmth from the inside out. He wants us to let the good in first.
He wants us to hear His voice, and that we ARE enough.
See through His eyes a child that is amazingly made.
I am inspired by people like Lizzy Velasquez who choose to embrace themselves, and choose to be happy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c62Aqdlzvqk http://www.aboutlizzie.com
Or Jessica as a toddler who tells herself she is amazing (we could learn from her) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg .
When you look in the mirror, choose to embrace the beautiful you. Accept yourself, love yourself. You can define who you are.
It is when we can truly love ourselves that we shine a light on the person we were meant to be. Amazing things will happen. Let the good comments in and push those bad comments out.
Let your love for yourself shine through. You have a choice, we have the power to choose who we are.
If you want to read another related post check out Mirror Mirror on the Wall
May you be blessed,
Ness
you can check out my personal blog at www.nesschesters.wordpress.com
- Beautiful You ~Loving yourself from the inside out - July 8, 2015
- Past, Present, Future - March 3, 2015
- Love Makes the World Go Around - December 27, 2014