Love is not complete without loving yourself

Love, love, love is not complete without loving yourself. Some of us are poor at loving others and poor at loving ourself. Others can love others but not ourself. Still others can love ourself but not others. To love completely and fully without attachment we must first learn to love ourself without attachment. This means being kind to ourself. This means not putting ourself down, but also not getting puffed up. This means being gentle with ourself when we make mistakes. This means laughing at ourself seeing the humor in our folly, but not belittling ourself. The more we focus on others’ pain with the wish for resolution, the more we cultivate compassion. Remembering that everyone has been our mother countless times brings us closer to others. Recognizing that we are all the same in wanting happiness and not pain, brings us even closer.