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Accepting Ourselves Deeply

Here's a really great piece on self love published on October 1, 2012 by Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D. in The Mindful Self-Express on the Psychology Today blog.

 She offers 50 best quotes on self-love but also expresses how we as a society have evolved emotionally and speaks to the challenges we have faced since the early 1900's.  The quotes have heart and meaning regarding the all important goal of self-love.  All the links still work and are also very interesting.

The 50 quotes include topics such as, Know Thyself, Be True to Yourself, Respect Yourself and Value Yourself just to mention a few. There is also a deeply persuasive exercise to help you develop self-acceptance.

Here's the beginning of Melanie's powerful article just to get you started:

 The biggest struggle in life is the struggle to know, embrace, and accept ourselves, with all of our faults and imperfections. Many of us were raised  by parents who were themselves victims - who were not taught to see their own worth, or who were not really seen by their own parents. Our grandparents generation faced massive trauma and upheaval due to the Second World War and the Great Depression. The focus was on survival and minimizing the damage, rather than on love, appreciation and intimacy. Individuals and families today face the challenges of long commutes, longer working hours, and global economic uncertainty. These stresses can beat us down, or make us build walls around ourselves that are so dense that even our dearest friends, partners, spouses and children can't get in. Yet, there is another way.

When we have the courage to let the walls down - to know and embrace ourselves, despite our human failings, we also open the door to connecting in a more caring, empathic, intimate way with the ones we love and with all living beings. Our brains are wired for survival, but also for empathy. We have mirror neurons that fire when we see other people's pain. Let us learn to love ourselves so we can be more open and compassionate to others, and so we can take down the walls that limit who we can be and what we can contribute. The quotes below are intended as inspiration for your inward journey. Become more mindful of your thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Know your vulnerabilities as well as your strengths and achievements, and learn to love yourself for both. I have included categories that define some different facets of self love, including awareness, acceptance and growth. Following the quotes is an exercise to help you better know and accept yourself.

 Please do check out the rest of this great information, if you, like me are on a journey to unconditional self-love.

 Peace. Ellie

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