Self-Love is a journey. Probably the most important one we can ever make – at least for me. It is somewhat a revolutionary act, in a world profiting from us being intrinsically dissatisfied. The constant message that we unconsciously get, is that we are basically insufficient: we lack looks, wealth, fame, power, sex-appeal, etc.
Self-love is a quiet, daily and often a very lonely journey.
This journey begins in the intimate space, where we get to meet and strive to befriend ourselves. Not only the fun, entertaining and easy bits. But the whole of us. This has been a fundamental work done in all meditation and spiritual practices. It implies the active cultivation of a mental state called METTA, that allows us to open ourselves to the emotions and feelings we often run away from.
METTA, a Pali word often translated as lovingkindness, is defined by warm heartedness and a feeling of goodwill, through which we meet others and ourselves. This is seen as an important base for self-knowledge and self-awareness; it is the force that allows us to come in contact with whom we actually are, and beyond of what we believe we should be.
Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It’s about befriending who we are already
Pema Chödrön
METTA directed towards our selves, is a process of healing, as we integrate the parts we like least and learn to meet them with increasingly more integrity, more honesty and greater gentleness.
Learning to be with myself in loving kindness, is a practice that I (try to) incorporate in all aspects of my life, and it is an essential part in my yoga and meditation practices.
One needs to learn to make space for feelings, that need to be felt, heard and processed. Cultivating a sense of curiosity to find out what shows up and facing it with warm heartedness. Being there for yourself like you would be for a good friend, for a child: embracing, accepting rather than pushing away.
Let your practice offer you a space for healing and creating a deep sense of connection with whom you truly are. Practice to be there for yourself, over and over again.
If you are curious to find out more about METTA- its depth & beauty and how to cultivate it, I encourage you to check out the following authors:
Pema Chödrön: https://pemachodronfoundation.org/
Begine, wo du bist: eine Einleitung zum mitfühlenden Leben, Aurum in Kamphausen Media GmbH, 2003
Sharon Salzberg: https://www.sharonsalzberg.com
Wahre Liebe: Der buddhistischer Weg, mit sich selbst und anderen glücklich zu leben, O.W. Barth, 2003
