In 1956, psychologist & social philosopher Erich Fromm proposed that loving oneself is different from being arrogant,conceited or egocentric. He proposed that loving oneself means caring about oneself, taking responsibility for oneself, respecting oneself, and knowing oneself (e.g. being realistic and honest about one’s strengths and weaknesses).In a world where vanity is increasing, true self love seems to be declining. When we are suffering from an Eating Distress/Eating Disorder we often fear the idea of loving ourselves as it may appear to others as big headed and arrogant, when the reality couldn’t be further from this conditioned thought. Through various behaviours and self-limiting beliefs we are declaring our deficiency of self love. This is an area we must learn to embrace in order to reach Full Freedom.
How do I define Self Love?
What is the difference between Self Love and Vanity?
What are my fears around Self Love?
How does Self Love, or the lack of, affect my relationship with me and others?
What change would I see in my life if I was to truly love myself?
What is Recovery from an Eating Distress/Eating Disorder – Learning to love ourselves…..
Today, take the opportunity to focus on YOU through the eyes of Self Love.
This wonderful poem from Charlie Chaplin can be a help for us to understand more what actually Self-Love means.
As I Began To Love Myself
by Charlie Chaplin
As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth.
Today, I know, this is “AUTHENTICITY”.
As I began to love myself I understood how much it can offend somebody
As I try to force my desires on this person, even though I knew the time
was not right and the person was not ready for it, and even though this
person was me.
Today I call it “RESPECT”.
As I began to love myself I stopped craving for a different life, and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow.
Today I call it “MATURITY”.
As I began to love myself I understood that at any circumstance, I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens at the exactly right moment. So I could be calm.
Today I call it “SELF-CONFIDENCE”.
As I began to love myself I quit steeling my own time, and I stopped designing huge projects for the future. Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, things I love to do and that make my heart cheer, and I do them in my own way and in my own rhythm.
Today I call it “SIMPLICITY”.
As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is no good for my health, food, people, things, situations, and everything that drew me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism.
Today I know it is “LOVE OF ONESELF”.
As I began to love myself I quit trying to always be right, and ever since I was wrong less of the time.
Today I discovered that is “MODESTY”.
As I began to love myself I refused to go on living in the past and worry about the future. Now, I only live for the moment, where EVERYTHING is happening.
Today I live each day, day by day, and I call it “FULFILLMENT”.
As I began to love myself I recognized that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick. But As I connected it to my heart, my mind became a valuable ally.
Today I call this connection “WISDOM OF THE HEART”.
We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problems with ourselves or others. Even stars collide, and out of their crashing new worlds are born.
Today I know THAT IS “LIFE”!
