What does it really take to truly LOVE myself?
Self-Love & Spirituality concepts sound so nice and fluffy on the surface, but I am not interested in dwelling in the fluff any more. Sugar coating my life has never worked for me. Sweeping the dust and grime and sludge under the rug eventually will cause a stench too putrid to ignore.
Embodying self-love and living a truly spiritual life means GOING DEEP… into the depths. It means the willingness to shake up my world and experience all kinds of uncomfortable feelings. It means taking chances and listening to my heart even if everyone around me doesn’t agree. It means honoring and trusting the guidance that comes to me. It means crying and sobbing when I am faced with my deepest insecurities and fears. It doesn’t just mean booking a monthly massage or sitting down for my meditation for 20 minutes a day (like a good meditator) or completing my daily yoga practice. It means all of the messy and ugly things. It means falling down and getting back up. It means failing and stumbling. It means making mistakes and seemingly falling back into old patterns. It means being OK with all of that. It NEVER means perfection or doing life “right”. It means total integration of light and dark. Total acceptance of self (all my flaws and gifts together).
True Self-Love means surrendering EVERYTHING. Laying it ALL down because I trust in the process of life. I trust my higher self and the divine to continue to co-orchestrate my most beautiful life. It means relinquishing my need to control and know everything and have my hand on the wheel at all times.
LET GO.
INTO THE DEPTHS.
TRUST THAT YOU WILL BE HELD THERE.
TRUST THAT THE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON.
EVEN WHEN YOU CAN’T “SEE”.
The LOVE that you are looking for is your own
The ACCEPTANCE that you are looking for is your own
The FORGIVENESS that you are wanting is from you and for you
The LONGING you feel is your own heart longing for YOU
The ABANDONMENT you feel is the abandonment you feel from yourself
The REJECTION is your own rejection of YOU
The HOLE in your life is an ILLUSION
There is no HOLE. There is only WHOLENESS.
You haven’t missed out on anything, you have only missed YOU.
You don’t need anyone’s approval, you only need to approve of yourself right now.
You don’t need validation from any outside source.
Validate YOU.
Be your biggest cheerleader.
Be your #1 fan.
Be your biggest LOVER.
Don’t be afraid to GO DEEP.
It is safe and you are held.
Come home to yourself.
With Love,
Lisa
I love your shadow too. Enough said.
And I yours, Mark. LOVE.
Embracing our shadow means complete acceptance of who we are in total. If we brush parts of ourselves under the rug, they are still there waiting to be dealt with. Vulnerability makes us more real and better able to connect in deep and profound ways with others. No shame but only gratitude for even the parts of us that are works in progress. Surrender to what is and trust that you will always be shown the way. Love yourself just as you are.
Yes Amen to all you said, mom! Vulnerability and raw truth will continue to further connect us. Self-acceptance and love will heal us! Love you XO
Dear Lisa,
I am here with you ~ “Deep Dive” in the last six months was the Universe’s plan for me… so necessary and real while in human existence. I am truly grateful for your written words. I have felt it all and have come up like a Sunflower. … I can stay here knowing that ALL MY Soul’s attention must come through me and from me … I even thought and wrote out loud that “I sometimes turn my own head”… you see, self-worth and not enoughness would stop & damage this kind of closesness to myself; which also caused me to settle for crumbs and not the whole meal, as in choosing a love interest. I am offering every part to myself with open eyes and arms. I am my #1 fan and Lover!
So awesome to read, Liz! I am with you as you continue to navigate these times and deep dive… may you continue to fall in love with you. Sending you soooo much love. XO
Always love and relish your insights and writing, Lisa. And I love the idea of embracing my shadow side and leaning into understanding her more. Many thanks for this beautiful post!
Thank you so much, Rachel! Yes… the shadow doesn’t have to be shunned or rid of. The ego and shadow aspects of ourselves are part of us. The more we ridicule and criticize these aspects, the less we are able to integrate and truly heal. I love you!