Niki of The Richness of a Simple Life has issued a Kindness Challenge inviting people to focus on kindness for seven weeks. Each week she’ll be offering a prompt and inviting people to work with that focus and then post about it at the end of the week. Do consider joining us – now is always the right time for adding more kindness to the world.
This first week’s focus was: Self-Love.
In truth I’ve always been self-reflective, and years of deep inner work, spiritual practice and soul connection have really opened up the exploration of self-love for me.
I absolutely believe self-love is a critical core piece and an essential component of how we’re meant to navigate in this world. We cannot be authentic unless we’re centered in love of ourselves. If we are not, we are subject to the desire and drive to bend ourselves into pretzel-like positions, trying always to be the person someone else will like, approve of, or love. But the price we pay is that the other person may indeed like, love or approve, but they’re doing that towards a false self we really aren’t. And as we pull ourselves further and further away from who we truly are, we become lost, untethered from our true anchor point, disconnected from our true soul self.
While it’s true we live in relationship with one another, in relationship with all things, true unity consciousness invites us to understand we’re doing this eye-to-eye, peer-to-peer. No one is more important than you, and no one is less.
If I believe my mission is to increase the love quotient here on planet Earth, and in fact I do believe that, then I not only have to be sourced in love, but I have to radiate it as purely and clearly as I can. It starts with me. If I think of myself as a love and light transceiver – a transmitter and receiver, I have to envision every particle of me, every cell, every thought, word, and deed infused in love. How lovely and light that is! And then my job is simply to meet the world that way. To understand that inside isn’t different from outside, me isn’t different from you.
Being set on loving myself means paying attention to who I am, what I’m carrying, and making sure it’s all in alignment with what I wish to express.
Is it always easy to love ourselves? Of course not. I’m pretty sure there will always be times when we disappoint ourselves. There are certainly times when I allow myself to feel judged and feel that sting to those parts of me that are most tender.
But I think part of our work is to notice these things. To know where we wobble and invite in great compassion and deep understanding, and keep surrendering all the places we keep ourselves tight and hidden and in fear. Always committing to loving ourselves and moving closer and closer to our pure true selves.
Niki has invited us to do a self-portrait and/or choose a mantra to empower our work. I can’t help but love Rumi’s admonition: “Close your eyes. Fall in love. Stay there.”
Won’t you join me?
What a lovely reflection! I felt such a sense of peace and warmth as I read it. Thank you for sharing your journey of self-love with us. I absolutely love that quote! I love Rumi but that’s one I’d never heard before. I will most certainly join you in this endeavor to increase the light and love in this world. <3
Thanks for your kind words Niki. You chose a wonderful focus for us to begin the challenge with. I think having grounded our attention in self will prove very helpful as we expand our attention outward. I’m looking forward to next week’s invitation.
It starts with each and everyone of us – thank you for that beautiful emphasis and reminder Deborah ?
It starts with us indeed Susan.
Hi Deborah – I can see where you are coming from … and I love the nod to Rumi … I now need to put this into practise … being there for me … and remembering others – cheers Hilary
The giving and receiving of kindness, to ourselves and others, is such a beautiful focus for our lives isn’t it?
Wise words and it’s good to get an insight from someone who has been trying to do this for some time now. I feel like I am just setting out on this great journey but I’ve had a very powerful first week of self-discovery 🙂
http://pempispalace.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/week-1-self-love-reflection.html
I’m so glad to be exploring this challenge along with you Pempi. And indeed I’m celebrating what a powerful week you had. You’re quite an inspiration.
I think we are on the same path? (you can check my services). My post hits this challenge from the point of view of a searcher but I give some tips in the end. have a nice day!
I quite enjoyed your post Pempi, and look forward to reading more.
Lovely words Deborah … like some of the other commenters above, I feel like I’m closer to the beginning of this journey and it is very encouraging reading the words of people like yourself who have been anchored in a practice for some time. The Rumi quote is beautiful.
Wherever we happen to be on this journey, I like to imagine it’s always a bit like the magic of falling in love. Only rather than with another it’s with ourselves. And how much fun is that?!
Very inspiring. Thank you for your insight.
Thanks Wanda. I’m happy to be on this kindness journey with fellow travelers like you.
Dear Deborah,
I am a big believer in ‘everything happens for a reason’. This morning I woke up doubting myself and then I noticed your comment at my post, hopped over here to yours and read your message; just when I needed your lovingly reminder.
Thank you for sharing these very true words. XxX
I just love those little cosmic winks. And how perfect is it that kindness has connected us? Makes me smile just thinking about it. I look forward to continuing this exploration with you as a fellow traveler Patty.
Thank you for this beautiful post! I love the Rumi quote.
https://meinthemiddlewrites.com/2017/05/12/me-in-the-middle-of-week-1-kindness-challenge/
Thanks Mary Lou. I’m glad we’ve begun our journey on this note, and look forward to the weeks ahead.
Oh Deborah, you have captured and expressed all that is Divine…Love Divine! And I for one, can see your light, and feel your kindred spirit vibrating a soulful frequency to any and all who are tuned in!!! Let it flow! I’m with you! Aloha to you!
Such kind words Vicki – thank you! And much aloha to you as well.
very nice Deborah on reflecting on compassion
Thank you. I appreciate you stopping by and visiting. I’m having a bit of trouble returning your visit, but I’ll continue trying.