The Essence of Love

"Self-love can be described as the essence of love, but truthfully you are the essence of self-love"

-Anonymous 

Since self-love is at the root of all love and relationships, you might ask, why we didn't start with self-love, after all, it's at the heart of it all?
Correct. It is. Furthermore, it's only when you are able to love yourself and have a relationship with yourself are you able to fully love others. However, once you see the power of love, the depth of love and how love can be everlasting, you want to know all that could be achieved. 

Which brings us to the question, what does it mean to have a relationship with oneself, to love oneself?

Is it ok to love some parts of yourself and not others? Does it still count?

Each one of us is infinite greatness filled with infinite love. To love oneself is to accept and appreciate everything about ourselves - from the inside out and outside in - to love yourself for being you!

Before I go on though, we must ask ourselves, Do we see ourselves the way G-d sees us, or do we let the stories other people have told us about ourselves become our story? 

No one can do what you are destined to do and no one can live your life better than you!

Go on and give yourself credit for all the good things you have done and for everything you have achieved. Use that as a springboard to bigger, better and more extraordinary things - you were not born to be ordinary!

We all make mistakes, we might hurt others or feel like we have let them down but how could we let ourselves down? How can we overlook our tremendous abilities, our immense greatness?

You have so much to give, to yourself, to others around you and to the world. Start by kindling a fire within so it shines, burns and shares its warmth to others.

Love your present, embrace your past and anticipate your future!

"The world is your oyster; look inside and you'll find the pearls."

Never forget your worth.
Never give up.
Always believe and you might even surprise yourself with what you achieve. 

As I wrap this up, I ask you, how often do you tell yourself - "I love you just the way you are?"