Unconditional Love!

[Pony]

Unconditional love........what does that mean?

To love someone with and inspite of their faults and annoying habits. To love them without putting some kind of condition on your feelings or loyalty to them. To love them despite the disappointments that follow.......just to love them for who they are and not what you expect them to be.

Who do we love unconditionally?

For the most part, on the average, it's our family and our friends. We love our children eventhough they disappoint us and do things that we might not have chosen for them. We love our husbands/wives despite that they are messy and may not always brush their teeth before bed. lol. We love them even though they are not the perfect looking model type, or maybe they are, but have something deeper than that to cling onto. We love our parents eventhough they may have caused us pain in our growing years. We love our brothers/sisters eventhough you've had many years of fights and torment with each other. Eventhough they may have traveled a different road than you or what you would have chosen for them.

All these people we love despite themselves and any flaws they may have, and we forgive them for hurting us or disappointing us at one time or another. It's easy to do.....we do that for them!!!

So......

Tell me why, then, can't we do the same for ourselves? Why is it harder for us to love ourselves unconditionally? Why can't we forgive ourselves for doing things that hurt us or disappoint us? We can accept others and their failings, but not us....ourselves and our failings. We are just as human as the next person. We have just as much right to be loved by ourselves as we do for others.

I know with me, I can accept the way other people are, respect them for how they feel, give space when asked for, give comfort when needed, a pat on the back and a uplifting smile.....encouraging words to keep one going, but when it comes to myself I have fallen short. I haven't been so understaning. Nor have I given true comfort. Oh artificial comfort in the way of food or drinking, but never real comfort in a healthy way. Until now. Now while I struggle to build a life free of food and extra pounds and bad attitude.

Accepting me for who I am.....big thing! I am a nice person, hard working, true friend who loves to share of herself anything. Oh I know I have lots of work to do on me, but there's alot that is good right now! It's great that others notice but it's important that I notice!

Once learning to accept me, then I can learn to like me and then move on to loving me. Unconditionally! Why should we treat ourselves any less then we treat our friends or family. Love unconditionally, forgive ourselves of our failures and encourages ourselves to keep trying.

Thanks for letting me share.

[Chy]

That is just so awesome Pony!! Thank you for sharing!

[NancyEllen]

Pony, what a beautiful beautiful post. Thank you.

[renee18]

Thanks Pony that was a great post. It helps me to remember that I need to accept myself as I am and ot forgive myself too. Which is very hard for me to do and i don't know why? SOmething I will have to work on harder when my load is not as heavy as it is now. Thanks for sharing. Thanks for always supporting and saying postive things to keep me going.
LOve,
Shana

[Pony]

Accepting ourselves is a hard thing. It shouldn't be, but it is. I believe that our self acceptance issues come down from our role models during our growing years. In the attempt to be better than, nothing was ever good enough.

A book I am currantly reading talks about the messages that we received as children and recreate today over and over in our minds. Some can be more damaging than previously thought, making us feel less than....not making the grade in a manner of speaking. So we have to choose to change that. Feeding ourselves better messages aides in our quest for self-acceptance.

From the book:
Self-approvable and self-accptance in the now are the main keys to positive changes in every area of our lives.
Loving the self begins with never ever criticizing ourselves for anything. Criticism locks us into the very pattern we are trying to change. Understanding and being gentle with ourselves helps us to move out of it. Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn't worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.

In the infinity of life where I am, all is perfect, whole, and complete. I believe in a power far greater than I am that flows through me every moment of every day. I open myself to the wisdom within, knowing that there is only One intelligence in this Universe. Out of this One Intelligence comes all the answers, all the solutions, all the healings, all the new creations. I trust this Power and Intelligence, knowing that whatever I need to know is revealed to me, and that whatever I need to know is revealed to me, and that whatever I need comes to me in the right time, space, and sequence. All is well in my world.


As I read on and learn, I will share with you.

the book is: "You Can Heal Yourself" by Louise L. Hay

[indigo]

I don't know how you did it but with your post you have replenished my soul today. Thank you Pony from the bottom of my heart I will look forward to further readings.
hugs indigo

PS Your timing is perfect.

[NancyEllen]

Hi Indigo...Really glad you are back.

Nancy