Barriers to Loving…Yourself

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”~ Rumi

If loving our self can create miracles why is it so many of us resist doing it?

We are all born into love and of love. However, we become fractured from this feeling as we experience life as a result of the messages we receive from our parents, siblings, teachers, friends, and the media.  At an early age we begin to believe the negative messages we see and here about ourselves, and allow them to become embedded in our hearts and mind as our truth.

How many times a day do you think unloving and unkind thoughts about yourself?

We wouldn’t talk to our best friend the way we often talk to ourselves so why do we talk to ourselves in this degrading manner?  While we all have a mean inner critic who tells us that we aren’t enough, that we are stupid, fat, ugly, and lazy, not worthy, we don’t have to let her reign. We have a choice.

How would it feel to direct some of that fabulous love and compassion you give so freely to others, to yourself?

Fear is another obstacle that keeps us from allowing the love to flow inwards. When you are feeling fear you shut down the love channels. There are many brands of fear that keep us stuck in old habits and patterns. Identifying your fears will help you get back in control of your feelings and your thoughts.

Then there is the other obstacle that is standing in our way of loving and caring for ourselves, Time. We tell ourselves that our lack of time prevents us from feeling our own love. We tell ourselves that we don’t have time to take some deep cleansing breaths, journal, go for a walk, meditate, read a book, or have a nap. We get caught up in the details of our day and those around us and the day just flies by.

But how you can love others if you don’t love yourself first?

We believe the lies we tell our self that everyone else- our kids, our partner, our parents, our work, just can’t live without us, and that we don’t have 20 minutes a day to nurture our bodies or spirits. Let’s get real here- that’s just the inner critic and fear talking! If you make yourself a priority you will find the time.

Loving yourself is vital to having loving relationships and the life you dream of. Unless you start loving yourself you won’t see the beauty within or the magic and wonder outside. Isn’t it time to show yourself some lovin’?

Everything you need to live a happy and purposeful life is already inside of you. You were born with love and you are entitled it. Now it’s time to make space for it.

What keeps you from loving yourself?

With love + light,