Love Thyself IV-Happily Ever After
I used to be a sucker for fairy tales. A handsome prince, perfect in every way, sweeps me off my feet, saves me from all my predicaments, and whisks me away to his magical faraway kingdom where we live happily ever after…*swooning*
Once, I was ignorantly convinced that I had found my prince charming, but over time I realized there was no white carriage, no heels made of glass and he was as flawed as I am. My fantasy quickly faded into reality as I came to know that nobody is perfect, and that I am the cause of all my predicaments.
No human can save me from myself.
This realization did not only cause me grief, but propelled a frantic need to love and accept myself for me.
During this ‘what-is-wrong-with-me phase’, I searched introspectively and began to ask myself some very uncomfortable questions; “Why do I need someone to love me so I am enough?...why can't I love myself for me?”, “Why do I feel the need to change to be a better version of myself?... and why am I still empty even after practicing all the self love affirmations?”
In that plethora of chaos, it hit me… I had been running away from myself because I didn't like myself, so the fantasy of living a fairytale was far more pleasurable than reality.
It was there that I decided to get to know all of me; the good, the bad, the very ugly, so I could work on any unresolved issues that cropped up. In the process of self discovery I had to face the truth about my spirituality; I sometimes doubted the existence of God even though I was brought up otherwise. Eventually I returned to my roots to fix the cognitive dissonance I had been experiencing that had negatively impacted my self worth.
Here is what I am learning;
A Greater Power really does exist
If you have been reading my blogs you will know that I am a huge science fanatic. What isn’t there to love about gravity, blackholes and entropy? Unfortunately, along the way of acquiring knowledge, I lost my way to the truth. If Science is proven to be true, why doesn’t it prove the existence of God?
Now I know that they are both mutually independent from each other. The validity of Science does not provide enough evidence to disprove the occurrence of a much greater power, it actually compliments the existence of it. All the laws and principles, from Newtons to Einstein’s, support the presence of forces that control the whole Universe!
Nature’s brilliance and beauty portrays the existence of God. Although we cannot see Him, the majesty of the Universe, the brilliance of the heavenly bodies, the continuity and diversity of life, bears witness to the power of a Self sustaining Force. This truth did not only bring clarity, but deep insight as I began to understand who God is by understanding how nature works.
“The universe declares the existence and precision of God. The skies display His craftsmanship”. (Psalm 19:1)
2. We are so loved by God
I was so blown away when I read in the bible that He even knows the amount of hairs we have on our heads. Why? Because He finds this trivial information so important that He counts! We are so loved because He provides all our needs, even before we know we need them.
Realizing that I was this loved made me feel so special, so I began to love myself too. I began to love myself not to be loved, but because I was already loved.
“Look at the birds of the air, they don’t plant or harvest because your heavenly Father feeds them.”(Matthew 6:26)
3. I gradually become like God when I spend more time with Him
We are created in the image and likeness of God so our spirit craves a union with His. The Law of attraction causes entities of the same elements to become one. So, Instead of filling that need with temporal fixes, I spend more time communicating with Him and learning to know His person.
Gradually, my mind is being renewed to think and become like Him, the origin of Love. This is making me more patient, kind, and loving towards myself and others.
4. My Identity is in eternity
My real identity is not my name, my race, nor my country of origin. Neither does it come from fleeting descriptions like my beauty, my occupation, or my possessions. The eternal Spirit of God in us, makes us His children. This identity in Royalty is eternal!
My identity provides a never ending source of peace, and joy, knowing that when my body turns to dust, I will still live forever in a magical kingdom where the streets are made of gold. This makes me love myself in every moment, “knowing that my present sufferings cannot be compared to the glory that will be revealed in me” (Romans 8:18).
5. I am not perfect and that is okay
I have tendencies, idiosyncrasies, and addictions that do not reflect my identity because I am still imperfect. Life here on Earth is exposing my flaws but teaching me to overcome them so I can build character worthy of my purpose. When we do not resist hard times, we allow ourselves to be hard-pressed, molded, and refined into diamonds. Although this may take a lifetime to achieve, we get closer to perfection when we overcome every hurdle and win every battle.
“Eventually these sufferings produce perseverance, perseverance produces character, character produces hope”. (Romans 5:1)
6. I am a masterpiece in progress
Like a huge oak tree, stuck in a tiny seed, we are all masterpieces in progress. A little rain here, a little pruning there, lots of sunshine and we will bloom to bear fruits. Thus, let’s be patient and not be too hard on ourselves for failing or making mistakes.
Greatness takes time.
In the meantime, let’s continue to take care of ourselves in all areas; eating healthy to live wealthy, surrounding ourselves with good people, meditating till we levitate, investing in ourselves and our future generations, and actually living the wonderful life we have been given.
We only live here once. Let’s not spend all our lives planning or hoping for a better life. Let’s actually live in the here and now as our only certainty in this world is death.
7. I love sharing my love with others
Like a cup overflowing with water, love overflows from my heart when I allow God into all areas of my life. It is only then that I am able to share this love with you, because I am so overfilled that I cannot help but share this love with others. Loving others is being patient with them, being selfless, and kind to them.
Do unto others what you would like to be done to you. Forgive people of their shortcomings and keep no record of it as our Father has. Protect them, trust and hope that they also experience the overflowing love of God, so they cannot help but to share.
Love makes the world go round.
Truly loving myself was impossible without God as He is the origin of infinite love. Allow Him into your life today and experience the perfect love that transcends this life into a happily ever after.
In the final blog, I will share with you practical ways I practice self love knowing that I am already loved.
Till we meet again,
Keep the crowns upright,
and your love overflowing.
