How To Love Yourself In 17 Ways
How to love yourself when you don’t know how?
It’s exactly what it was like when I first started realising that I needed to love myself but have no idea where to start.
I felt embarrassed that I was clueless and that I should already know this stuff. “How to love yourself” sounded like something that everyone ought to know from young. You see…by the time I became aware about the importance of self-love, I was already an adult, married and with young children.
I even found it surprising (and even laughable) to realise that I was clueless.
Surely, I should be some kind of an expert? After all, as I recalled, relationship matters had been a key focus since my younger days. My attention was on dating, partying and looking for a potential partner. Over cups of latte, I would have long conversations with my girlfriends about relationship issues. As things turned out, I found myself failing miserably in my early relationships. I was in and out of love.
Angel Message: The World is Your Oyster
An angel appeared in my dream last night.
She gently placed the globe in the palm of my hands.
And she whispered, “the world is your oyster“.
Merry Christmas from Hogwarts Castle at Universal Studios Orlando
Fancy spending Christmas in the wizarding world of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Orlando – where there are robed wizards, flying broomsticks, cauldrons of potions, and magical wands against the backdrop of Hogwarts castle?
While I don’t generally like crowds, I found the entire atmosphere electrifying. The world of Harry Potter came alive as soon as we stepped into Hogsmeade Village and Diagon Alley. I may be on a family vacation in the US but I felt as if I was in a familiar place like home.
It’s been exciting doing the rides, hanging out with the muggles and wizards alike and drinking butter beer. Holiday decorations and the playing of the Christmas carol in the background added to the magical vibe….
Christmas at Hogwarts: Christmas Carol
Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas
Ring the Hogwarts bell
Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas
Cast a Christmas spell
Continue reading
How to Love Life Fully
Do you know how to love life fully?
Well, for a period in time, I was asking myself this very question.
I put myself on a search.
The journey felt incidentally harder perhaps because of the internal struggle that I was going through during that period.
Yet, no matter how and where I search, I could not get complete answers.
Which led me to the realisation that I the answers I sought are not out there.
They pretty much lie from within.
The answers came from a wise part of the self….
How to Love: 7 Quotes by Thich Nhat Hanh
How to love is a small but beautiful book by Zen Buddhist Master, Thich Nhat Hanh. It is the third title in the Mindfulness Essentials Series of how-to books. As always, he writes in simple language to explain profound insights from the practice of Buddhism, mindfulness and meditation.
I like that we are taught not just on the importance of self-love, but also how we can love another more fully. The teachings are poignant and persuasive: “to love without knowing how to love, wounds the ones we love.” We are invited to open our hearts in a meditative way.
How to Love is in 4 essentials: you can only love another when you feel true love for yourself; love is understanding; understanding brings compassion; and deep listening and loving speech are key ways of showing your love.
I had felt drawn to reading How to Love as learning to love is the fundamental of all relationships. Whether it is the relationship we have with ourselves, with our partners, success or even money, it rests on love. If we want to find greater meaning or improve on the quality of our living, learning How to Love is essential.
Here are 7 quotes in How to Love by Thich Nhat Hanh….
“Every one of us is trying to find our true home. Some of us are still searching. Our true home is inside, but it’s also in our loved ones around us. When you’re in a loving relationship, you and the other person can be a true home for each other.”
“Understanding someone’s suffering is the best gift you can give another person. Understanding is love’s other name. If you don’t understand, you can’t love.”
“The essence of loving kindness is being able to offer happiness. You can be the sunshine for another person. You can’t offer happiness until you have it for yourself. So build a home inside by accepting yourself and learning to love and heal yourself.”
“In a deep relationship, there’s no longer a boundary between you and the other person. You are her and she is you. Your suffering is her suffering. Your understanding of your own suffering helps your loved one to suffer less.”
“You are part of the universe; you are made of stars. When you look at your loved one, you see that he is also made of stars and carries eternity inside. Looking in this way, we naturally feel reverence. True love cannot be without trust and respect for oneself and for the other person.”
“To love without knowing how to love wounds the person we love. To know how to love someone, we have to understand them. To understand, we need to listen.”
“Love is a living, breathing thing. There is no need to force it to grow in a particular direction. If we start by being easy and gentle with ourselves, we will find it is just there inside of us, solid and healing.”
How to Love: Go on a Journey
How to love has turned out to be quite a journey for me.
I learned it with self-love, from writing a book on Self-Love, creating a self-love healing meditation program, improving my relationship with my husband and children, making the choice to do what I love and loving what I do and also, transforming the relationship I have with money.
My lessons have been in many forms and ways and I am still learning How to Love more every single day. The moment I woke up to true love was the moment I began to know who I am.
This post is sent with love from my heart to yours.
Love always,
Evelyn Lim
P.S. Recommended Resources:
1. How to Love by Thich Nhat Hanh
2. Self-Love Secrets
P.S.S. Share Your Thoughts and Comments on How to Love below.
How to Address The Emotional Causes to Skin Problems
Emotional causes to skin problems can be something that you want to look into, if your issues are persistent. While using steroids may alleviate your itch-scratch-itch symptoms, they are not cures. Also, long time reliance on drug medications can result in a “thinning” of your skin layer.
I know enough about dealing with skin healing issues myself. After all, I have had bad eczema outbreaks for many years until a few years ago. Recently, from working with clients, I noticed that there is a distinct relationship between those who are particularly energetically sensitive at the soul-level with also having a skin problem.
Skin disorders are like no other. Just as stress can result in skin problems, skin disorders can also cause tremendous stress. In cases of severe skin issues, those afflicted can become depressed. While it seems shallow, let’s admit that appearances do have an impact on first impressions. It can also affect our ability to find a mate, land that all-important interview or secure our next promotion.
How to Resolve Emotional Reasons for Cancer Prevention
Resolving accumulated negative emotions can prevent cancer or may even reduce its effects. Cancer invokes a lot of fear. It happens when the cells in your body divide in a way that is out of control. Many cancers form tumors, some of which can become life-threatening. Hence, it helps to understand early on what the emotional reasons behind it are. By knowing and understanding these factors, we can take preventative measures for cancer.
I’d like to reiterate that I am not a medical doctor nor profess to be an expert. However, I am happy to share the little that I know, so that those of you who are new to the information can have a starting point to finding out more.
Your Doubt or Your Dream? Decide Which to Feed
“Your doubt or your dream? Decide which you would rather feed.” Evelyn Lim
When it comes to manifesting your dream, do you find yourself facing doubt whether you are going to succeed or not?
I know I do.
I find doubt rising every now and then, especially when it comes to venturing into new ideas.
During such periods, I have learned to ask myself the very important question of which I would rather feed: doubt or dream.Continue reading
Enneagram Type 3: Positive Affirmations for Path of Growth
Overview of Enneagram Type 3: The Performer, Achiever, Motivator
If you are an Enneagram Type 3, you enjoy projecting the image of success. You place focus on goals, efficiency and checking off your to-do lists. Ambitious, you are driven by your desire for personal accomplishments. As a high functioning Type 3, you are confident, with the ability to harness your strengths and to motivate others to greater heights.
“The path to success is to take massive, determined action.” – Tony Robbins
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough. We must do.” Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
How to Find the Nirvana of Life Balance
Do you find it hard to achieve life balance?
Balance can be a challenging thing to attain if your work schedule is hectic and demanding.
“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony.” Thomas Merton
Perhaps, you have been striving hard for the money; climbing up the corporate ladder or running your business. You could also be a mompreneur working hard to balance babies and business at the same time.
And so, up till now, there could have been aspects of your life that you have ignored or set aside.
Continue reading