Does Loving Yourself mean you are selfish? Should we always put ourselves at the end of the line behind kids, spouse or work? I am adamantly saying NO to this idea as one that is unsound from body, mind and spirit points of view! We are integrated creatures that need to be well in every aspect in order to be truly well. It is unhealthy to neglect the needs of the body by lack of sleep, exercise or adequate nutrition. But, it is just as unhealthy to neglect the needs of the mind with boredom, lack of stimulation, ignorance or close-mindedness! And, just as unhealthy to neglect the needs of the spirit by a lack of nurturing relationships, beauty, creativity and spiritual growth! 

We can show how much we love our children by taking excellent care of their parents! BY giving them lives of interaction and dedication from parents who are healthy, engaged and interested! We can show our love for our spouses/partners by being able to share lives in which we are free to grow and nurture both members of the partnership! We help to achieve this by pursuing creative interests together and separately from each other! We can show our love for and dedication to our work by ensuring adequate rest from our labors, play to refresh the body and mind, and working at something that really fulfills the human need to feel accomplished! Then we are more able to put ourselves into the tasks with a will, and a fresh outlook. Work has a value in society and should be seen as valued! Not everyone has to be in an “important” job to be Important! We are all important and it is time we started getting the message!

If you don’t love yourself, you cannot really know how to love anyone else! My Mother would tell me that God loves us even knowing all our faults, so who are we not to love ourselves?

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