Do you love yourself??

United States
March 19, 2011 9:43pm CST
Sometimes I can say that I love myself... and sometimes I can say that I don't. Some people think that loving yourself is all about pampering yourself with gifts and things that you desire.. while others view it as doing something that you enjoy (hobby) or relaxing and treating your body as it deserves to be treated (exercise, health, eating habits). I view loving yourself and all of that plus more. This can include.. not putting yourself in risky situations... etc. One way that you can test yourself to see if you truly love yourself or not is to isolate yourself for a little while... away from everyone else... your family, friends, etc. Find yourself. If you can sit in a room and be happy WITH yourself BY yourself then you can truly say that you love yourself. But, if you're miserably bored and longing for companionship just so that you don't have to be alone, you haven't found that center yet... that comfortability of being by yourself and being able to make your own self happy. My grandmother always told me that only I can make myself happy... And I try to live by that day by day. So... can you truly say that you love yourself?? That you are treating your body as your temple, etc.???? What are your views??
2 people like this
13 responses
Marja
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
21 Mar 11
We read in Matthew chapter 22 (New Living Translation): [b]36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[e] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[/b] As we see here, we are supposed to love our neighbor as ourselves. That means that we have to love ourselves to be able to love others.. The love of God must come first and influence us so that we can do good to others. It is the most important love in our life. If we have that, then we will be able to love human beings too in the way God wants us to do it.
1 person likes this
LaLa Leo
@mrscallands22 (2852)
• United States
23 Mar 11
I'm loving that because it's so true. As it is written, as it shall be. I agree wholeheartedly!! Love must first be found within God to be found within oneself. And only then will you have that to offer to others.... greatt verses!!! Thanks for sharing!! BR award.
1 person likes this
Marja
@buenavida (9985)
• Sweden
23 Mar 11
Hi, mrscallands Thanks a lot for BR!! If we look at things deeper, where did I learn these verses? That was because some people loved us enough and offered to study the Bible with my mom, and, when I grew a bit older, others studied with me. Later I have sent the love further and told others about God´s purpose. That is the beauty of real love. We don´t lose anything by giving it to others, but feel a lot happier and richer ourselves.. Here is a wonderful article that compares God´s love to us with a mother´s love to her baby. http://www.watchtower.org/e/20080501/article_04.htm
dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
22 Mar 11
I do believe that I love myself, but I also think that I have a lot of room to grow in order to say that I completely and fully love myself. The reason that I say that is because of the fact that there are things about me that I'm not really all that fond of. However, throughout the course of my life I have come to believe that if you don't at least somewhat love yourself you really don't have the capacity to love other people.
1 person likes this
LaLa Leo
@mrscallands22 (2852)
• United States
23 Mar 11
I agree wholeheartedly! We ALL have room to grow... anyone that said they didn't would be indefinitely lying. I know people in their 40s and 50s that are saying the same things that I say today at 23. Life is what you make it.. but seems so much easier when you love yourself for who you are knowing that there is NO ONE else on Earth like you... and that you are unique. Wonderful feeling. Thanks for sharing!!
1 person likes this
natnickeep
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
20 Mar 11
I think loving yourself is as simple as remembering you are human and there is no one else just like you.
LaLa Leo
@mrscallands22 (2852)
• United States
20 Mar 11
That is so true!! If people just remembered that their individuality was given to them by God for a reason and that they aren't meant to be like everyone else, I think the world would be a better place. So many people are unhappy with themselves, their images... due to how media portrays how people SHOULD look, act, dress, speak, etc. Diversity is key in today's world... I wish people would just love themselves for who they are... and everyone else too. Thanks for sharing your views!!
natnickeep
@natnickeep (2336)
• United States
20 Mar 11
Yes media has truly conformed the way people think of themselves. A good self esteem is becoming even more hard to come by. Every time I have a thought of something bad or something I don't like about myself I try to replace it with something good about me. It's all about balance. Doing what you think is right, admitting when you are wrong, and not trying to control the things that are impossible to control.
LaLa Leo
@mrscallands22 (2852)
• United States
20 Mar 11
I agree... a whole lot of people beat themselves up sometimes about certain things like their attitude, weight or overall appearance. It's about being comfortable in your own skin and sometimes I am not that. Some days I am concerned about how my hair looks or how I look in certain clothing... but I suppose that it is only human nature. Reducing those feelings by practicing those same steps you listed is key in finding true happiness within oneself. "1. Doing what you think is right. (Having good morals and a positive attitude is always important and God blesses those who keep good ways in their hearts) 2. Admitting when you're wrong. (There are SOOOO many people that won't even admit fault when caught in a lie... and that's just being dishonest. No blessings can come from that.) 3. Not trying to control the things that impossible to control. (There are some things in life that you cannot change... I just ask God for the strength to accept the inevitable.. the tolerance to know it cannot be changed and the wisdom to know the differences between what can and what cannot be changed) Very wise words natnickeep.
acey76
@acey76 (1276)
• Philippines
20 Mar 11
Well, I love myself but I'm the type of person that I will give something I have just for another person, I like giving, even though It will left me with nothing.
LaLa Leo
@mrscallands22 (2852)
• United States
20 Mar 11
It seems like you're a generous person!!! That is cool and comes back tenfold.... God blesses those who give to others a lot. I am quite generous too... to those that I love... Thanks for commenting!!!
keshia2007r
@keshia2007r (2880)
• United States
20 Mar 11
Tuff question, but I do know you have to love yourself first before you love or can love anybody else. I wouldn't say I think about how much I love myself every day. Sound a little bit redundant to me. I can't even think of the last time when I said "oh i love me" lol, but I do, I appreciate my life knowing that it can come and go.
LaLa Leo
@mrscallands22 (2852)
• United States
23 Mar 11
Lol I can agree... sitting in a mirror kissing at yourself and saying "I Love LaLa (that's my name lol)" is a bit.... narcissistic... HOWEVER... treating yourself when you didn't plan it.... is a bit of a kiss on the lips lol. Thanks for sharing!!
jhonnysherlin
@jhonnysherlin (179)
• India
20 Mar 11
see i always loving myself because for we love ourself then go for another one, one thing i just love myself because i have confidence towards about me and myself but sometimes i lost my hope about myself even i do such thing even in my loving life a guilty thing at that time i always feel suffer about myself still this time also first of all i make belief of love and myself loving there is a belief towards us for love myself we ruins everything about it. In my friends they are not ofcourse they are just like loving others not themselves and relatives oh dear i never tell these are different characters they never love themselves and never love others,
LaLa Leo
@mrscallands22 (2852)
• United States
23 Mar 11
I feel like there's a very thin line between love and hate so crossing those borderlines can be easy at times..... I am loving myself at the moment... I am just wishing to receive this same love from my significant other. Keep loving yourself strong!! Thanks for commenting!!
my_name_is_coco
@my_name_is_coco (4334)
• Philippines
20 Mar 11
I love myself.nobody else will love you if you don't love yourself.at the end of the day,you can rely on no one but you.relationship with yourself is important as your relationship with others.you have to be happy with your own company.
LaLa Leo
@mrscallands22 (2852)
• United States
20 Mar 11
That is so true. You are born into this world alone and die alone... so there's no REASON why one shouldn't love themselves. Furthermore, you can't love someone else if you don't love yourself first!! Thanks for sharing!!
sender621
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
20 Mar 11
I don't think it is conceited to say that we love ourselves. After all, if we can't love ourselves, how can we expect to love anyone in return. how can we expect anyone else to love us if we don't have that feeling for ourselves?
LaLa Leo
@mrscallands22 (2852)
• United States
23 Mar 11
So so very true. You can't love someone you don't trust. You can't love anyone else if you don't even love yourself. You can't even say that you love God if you don't love your neighbor... because after all how can you love someone you've never seen if you didn't have faith?? It's a lot more to love than people realize. For example, if you meet someone that never pampers or takes care of themselves, looks like they need a good bath and doesn't care about their appearance or how anyone feels..... That person may not be capable of loving you...why? Because that person doesn't even love the temple that represents them (their body) enough to take care of it and keep it clean? (In my opinion, of course) Thanks for commenting!!
tessa9
@tessa9 (1085)
• Philippines
20 Mar 11
I think no one in the world completely loves themselves. There will aways be a time when you feel like everything is wrong and you blame yourself for that. I personally love my self sometimes. I sometimes have those days where I talk to Ms. Belly and Ms. Thigh and ask them to loss weight or something because they are ruining my groove :).
LaLa Leo
@mrscallands22 (2852)
• United States
20 Mar 11
I beg to differ... I know of a few people that love themselves... excessively lol almost like Narcissus (*sp)... but a LOT of people don't love themselves like they should. Only if and when they realize their own worth or with someone's help maybe they could, will they truly experience happiness. Thanks for commenting!!
Sheeny
@Sheeny (173)
• Philippines
20 Mar 11
Yes, I do love myself. Loving yourself just signifies that you just respect what God has given you. You are right, sometimes we need to isolate ourself from others then try to be alone. In that way we can relax and see a glimpse of what we are.
LaLa Leo
@mrscallands22 (2852)
• United States
20 Mar 11
That's great!! I agree with you as well when you say that God created us the way we are for a reason and we should be grateful for whatever body, opportunities, etc. that God blesses us with. It is sometimes hard to see those things when one is going through difficult times... I know. But, I try to embrace the positive things that I have going in my life and most of the time, the good outweighs the bad!! Thanks for commenting!!!
prabu03
@prabu03 (175)
• India
20 Mar 11
ya i love my self very much i want live up to 100 years inthis world we cant perdict that the word is being distoryed in some country i thing it ill distory the my country also i thing
LaLa Leo
@mrscallands22 (2852)
• United States
23 Mar 11
Wow!! That's a long time! And I hope that we ALL live to be 101! lol You're right.. we can't predict when the world is going to end or how or where it is even going to start.... but the thing is... just being ready and prepared for when it does by living every day as if it were your last. Carpe diem! Thanks for commenting!!
donski
@donski (132)
• Philippines
20 Mar 11
Yes of course, how can you love somebody without loving yourself first. you have to be at your best always, you don't have to pretend to be somebody you are not. Pampering yourself with the things you love doing. if your not in a relationship that doesn't mean that you're lonely but it's a matter of choice to be alone. Being with the family can complete you being a person, they can make you happy and contented. You take care of yourself, not only physical but emotional as well. Always think positive and always do good things. Don't make your life miserable because of whatever obstacle that comes your way but instead, be inspired and do all your best effort to handle it and overcome it. Just be yourself.
LaLa Leo
@mrscallands22 (2852)
• United States
23 Mar 11
That is so true... But those words are so hard to live by on a daily basis. Life's obstacles are a BIT much in today's world as we have gas rising, food prices rising, jobs disappearing, benefits locking in on us among the already major problems of famine, disaster and terrorism. It's a sad world that we live in... so remaining positive is a must for survival. Survival of the fittest should be the motto for 2011 lol. Thanks for commenting!!
anepal
@anepal (37)
•
20 Mar 11
It depends upon what mood you are. if you are happy with what you are doing then of course we love ourself but when we are out of our mind then we hate for what we are doing. In my case, when things are in my favor i love myself and when they aren't i hate myself.
LaLa Leo
@mrscallands22 (2852)
• United States
23 Mar 11
I can agree with that, too... because I share those same similar feelings... but we're not supposed to feel that way. We're SUPPOSED to ALWAYS love ourselves NO MATTER WHAT... even if NO ONE loves us.... but..... things don't always work out that way, now does it?? Thanks for commenting!!