Four Healthy Ways to Love Yourself
Many of us are afraid that loving ourselves will make us narcissistic and selfish. Many of us have too hard a time getting past our inner critics to even try to figure out what it means to love ourselves. Despite popular fears to the contrary, loving ourselves is an essential ingredient in being a truly moral person, as see in the Golden Rule.
- I will love myself FREELY. I commit to working for my good without reservation and without grumbling. I will challenge myself to stop the negative thoughts I have about myself. I will open my heart wide to receive the transformation God wishes to give me and to cooperate to the best of my ability with his grace at all times.
- I will love myself TOTALLY. While there are parts of myself that are hard to like and love, I will not turn away from them. I will celebrate the fact that I am wonderfully made and I am good! I will try to understand the purpose of those parts of me that I do not love, and I will have compassion for those parts of me instead of anger and irritation. I will fearlessly cooperate with God’s grace and strive for greatness so that every part of me, especially the parts of me I like the least, may be transformed and bear witness to the wonders God can do.
- I will love myself FAITHFULLY. Even on the days I want to give up on myself, I will continue to fight the good fight. I reject self-criticism and false guilt and any movement of the spirit that tries to separate me either from the love of God or his ability to fulfill the incredible plans he has for my life. On the days I can no longer believe in myself, I will cling to the knowledge that God believes in me. On the days that I cannot count on my own strength, I will rely on his. I will not beat myself up for my weakness.
- I will love myself FRUITFULLY. I will rejoice in the good things God does in and through me. I will look for ways to be a blessing to others. I will share the blessing God has given me, and I will proclaim the good he has done for me so that others might be inspired by the wonders God is working in me.
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