No one is excluded from the idea of loving yourself and following your own Truth—no matter what.
Our human world is wonderful in many ways, but it’s not fair and it’s not always kind or easy.
Some people have a much harder journey to loving themselves than others.
If things have happened in your life that make you dislike yourself, or your community deems you ‘different’ in some way, or you feel shamed just for being who you are—it can make loving yourself more challenging.
Things like being targeted for abuse...
the different one in your family...
poor amongst the rich...
emotionally-driven in a very rational workplace...
a sensitive and cautious homebody in an adventurous, sporty family...
dark-skinned in a light-skin-dominant culture...
disabled in an abled setting...
female in a male-dominated space...
have a learning difficulty amongst highly literate people...
homosexual in a homophobic environment...
All these and more can make you feel like you have no real right to exist.
Let's be honest, it can be very hard to love yourself when the pervasive message is:
Who you are is not acceptable.
You don’t fit in;
You’re not good enough;
You don’t have as much worth as others.
And even without some prejudice experience - many of us are giving this message to ourselves!
So here's the thing:
It’s more difficult to respect yourself and meet your deeper needs when you’re not shown respect in your surroundings.
Because even if you know it’s not true, part of you might still wonder if you are somehow ‘less’ than others and that makes it harder to love and listen to yourself.
But it doesn’t mean you don’t get to honor your Truth.
We all have the right to have our needs met - no matter what!
If you believe you’re not as good as others, you’ll keep yourself small. No one will need to put you down: you’ll shame yourself into not shining your true Self.
And your needs won't be met.
Walk your own path of love and worth in the tough moments by asking:
If I loved myself, what would I choose to do now?
Pause now, take a breath and say something kind to yourself.
