Week 5
Aligning Your 3 Sails: Thoughts > Actions > Words
The most important relationship you’ll ever have in this lifetime is with you, not your parents, siblings, or romantic partners, but with you! How you relate to yourself will be reflected in your health, your relationships, your finances, and your home. This relationship with yourself is typically given very little attention, time, or nourishment.
BEGIN A WILD AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AFFAIR WITH YOURSELF
Your outer world is a reflection of your inner world. Make no mistake—the way I judged myself in my twenties, weighing more than 260 pounds, was the way I judged others. The self-hatred, the self-condemnation, and the harsh internal dialogue I had for myself were mirrored back to me, and I found it everywhere I went. My poor self-image wreaked havoc on my relationships, career, and health. I hated myself. As a result, my body and mind were slowly turning on me and dying.
I had to make peace with myself exactly as I was. I had to love myself at my highest weight the same way I loved myself when I lost 100 pounds and continue to love myself when my weight fluctuates. That is the meaning of unconditional love. The more at peace I am with myself, the more at peace I am with my fellow human beings. When I can recognize the greatness in myself, I’m comfortable recognizing the greatest in others. When I’ve forgiven and accepted all of my shortcomings, I’m able to forgive and accept your shortcomings.
How does one cultivate an unconditional love affair? Like any other important relationship in your life, it takes time, energy, and patience. What would happen if Ms. or Mr. Wonderful walked into your life? How does one fall in love? You likely already know this formula well. You spend quality time together, you’ll see the very best in this person (which brings out the very best in this person). You’ll discover what brings them joy and give it to them. Can you do this for yourself?
It takes courage to stand in the light of day, looking at yourself through the eyes of love to actively seek everything that is right, beautiful, and worthy about you. Imagine the success you could achieve with your career, relationships, and health if you truly understood your worth and magnificence without condition.
The amount of unconditional love and care that is required to set a child up for success is EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED.
Action Steps:
Here’s an exercise I would like you to practice that is going to help you hone in on self-love. At some point, each day, you’re going to be naked. When this moment comes, I want you to look at yourself in a full-length mirror—really look at yourself. Then I want you to adore, compliment, and give love to all the parts of you that normally don’t receive so much love. Start to feel that vibration, the glow that radiates from self-love. Trust me, once you start loving yourself in this way, unconditionally, your entire world will be so much brighter. This is unconditional self-love in action.