Loving Myself.

It was a beautiful autumn morning. Ekate was walking into the cafe to find a quiet corner to get some homework done. As she walked by the glass building, she noticed a girl inside the cafe walking at the same pace as her. This girl was so pretty! She had a wonderful smile that lit up her face, and sparkling eyes that seemed like they could see everything within you, and love you anyway. She walked with confidence. She was beautiful. As Ekate rounded the corner to step into the building, she realized that the glass was actually a one-way mirror. She was that girl. On that day, Ekate realized somewhere deep inside, she made an unconscious decision to validate and love herself for who she was at that very moment.

That is the first moment that I can recall when I could truthfully say that I love myself. Not that I didn’t love myself before. I just didn’t feel the need to emphasize it to myself that I do. In fact, I was so detached from the true person of me, and the way others could see me, that when I came face to face with my own reflection, I didn’t recognize it. Seeing myself from this perspective really made me think. I was truly moved by the love and compassion that the other girl had in her eyes, but those were my eyes. I was loving and compassionate. At what point did I lose sight of those qualities within me? I made a decision in that moment that I would actively acknowledge the things I love most about myself.

I love myself. It seems like a foreign statement to most of us. We all have things that we would rather have or be like, to love ourselves just a bit more. Lose a little weight, or gain it, have a bit more money, or a newer car. Then, we think, only then I’ll be more lovable. What if I told you, in this very moment, you are the best version you can be at this very moment. If you’re in love with someone you used to be, then you live in the past, and the past will never happen again. You’re merely in love with a memory. If you’re in love with the ideal version of yourself that you may become sometime in the future, then you’re in love with an idea, not a person. The best version of you at this very second is the most lovable version of you, now. If you don’t love the most lovable version of you, will you believe others when they tell you that they love you?

You see, only when you see yourself as worthy of love will you be able to accept it from others. Otherwise, even when they do everything in their power to convince you of their love for you, you won’t be able to accept it. I love myself because at this very moment, I decide that I am beautiful. I decided just now that I am patient and kind to myself. That my “self” is deserving of everything that is noble, right, and true.

It is not wrong to love yourself. In fact, you must love yourself. Be patient and kind with yourself. Don’t be mean or jealous. Strive to protect your heart, to trust your instinct, to believe and create hope in yourself. My mentor once told me, everything you believe about yourself, you will inevitably become. If you could be anything, what would you be? Every day, I decide to be the greatest. Not every day do I end with the same enthusiasm as when the day began, but every morning I choose to be the greatest version of myself.

I invite you to find five or more qualities you love about yourself. Every day when you wake up and go through your morning routine, look yourself dead in the eye and tell yourself what you love. It could be how you handled a particular situation, a character trait that you value most in yourself, the way your hair looks just fabulous, or simply the fact that you woke up today.

Every day will bring its own thoughts on what you feel like you are today. What do you choose to create for yourself today? What is your reality?

One of the most poisonous of all Satan’s whispers is simply, “Things will never

change.” That lie kills expectation, trapping our heart forever in the present. To keep

desire alive and flourishing, we must renew our vision for what lies ahead. Things will

not always be like this. Jesus has promised to “make all things new.” Eye has not seen,

ear has not heard all that God has in store for his lovers, which does not mean “we

have no clue so don’t even try to imagine,” but rather, you cannot outdream God.

Desire is kept alive by imagination, the antidote to resignation. We will need

imagination, which is to say, we will need hope.

― John Eldredge, The Sacred Romance Drawing Closer To The Heart Of God

I aspire to pursue greatness. Greatness in my life looks like loving myself in this very moment, today, and every day.