Several days ago, I shared wrote an article in which I shared a page from one of my daily meditations.
The entry from the book of daily meditations — The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie — “Loving Ourselves Unconditionally” encourages me to be diligent to love who I am as an individual.
To share the information with individuals who learn through watching and listening to I am creating a video presentation of the article.
To watch and listen to the video presentation of the article, you may click on this link: Loving Ourselves Unconditionally after a Brain Injury Video Presentation
Below is a copy of the article
Loving Ourselves Unconditionally after a Brain Injury
Learning to love ourselves unconditionally after a brain injury can be challenging.
Yesterday, in one of my daily meditations, I read the below entry.
In the process, I was encouraged.
The entry gives me a way that I can use to love myself unconditionally.
I would invite you to read the below entry.
Loving Ourselves Unconditionally
Love yourself into health and a good life of your own. Love yourself into relationships that work for you and the other person. Love yourself into peace, happiness, joy, success, and contentment.
Love yourself into all that you always wanted. We can stop treating ourselves the way others treated us if they behaved in a less than healthy, desirable way.
If we have learned to see ourselves critically, conditionally, and in a diminishing and punishing way, it’s time to stop. Other people treated us that way, but it’s even worse to treat ourselves that way now.
Loving ourselves may seem foreign, even foolish at times. People may accuse us of being selfish. We don’t have to believe them.
People who love themselves are truly able to love others and let others love them. People who love themselves and hold themselves in high esteem are those who give the most, contribute the most, love the most.
How do we love ourselves? By forcing it at first. By faking it if necessary. By “acting as if”. By working as hard at loving and liking ourselves as we have at not liking ourselves.
Explore what it means to love yourself.
Do things for yourself that reflect compassionate, nurturing, self-love.
Embrace and love all of yourself – past, present, and future. Forgive yourself quickly and as often as necessary. Encourage yourself. Tell yourself good things about yourself.
If we think and believe negative ideas, get them out in the open quickly and honestly, so we can replace those beliefs with better ones.
Pat yourself on the back, when necessary. Discipline yourself when necessary. Ask for help; ask for what you need.
Sometimes, give yourself treats. Do not treat yourself like a pack mule, always pushing and driving harder. Learn to be good to yourself. Choose behaviors with preferable consequences – treating yourself is one.
Learn to stop your pain, even when that means making difficult decisions. Do not unnecessarily deprive yourself. Sometimes give yourself what you want, just because you want it.
Stop explaining and justifying yourself. When you make mistakes, let them go. We learn we grow, and we learn some more. And through it all we love ourselves.
We work at it, then work at it some more. One day we’ll wake up, look in the mirror, and find that loving ourselves has become habitual. We’re now living with a person who gives and receives love, because that person loves him- or herself. Self-love will take hold and become a guiding force in our life.
Today, I will work at loving myself. I will work as hard at loving myself as I have at not liking myself. Help me to let go of self-hate and behaviors that reflect not liking myself. Help me to replace those with behaviors that reflect self-love. Today, God, help me to hold myself in high self-esteem. Help me know I’m lovable and capable of giving and receiving love.
Book: The Language of Letting Go; May 25 entry, “Loving Ourselves Unconditionally”, pages 143-145 Author Melody Beattie
The author of Codependent No More and Beyond Codependency
You have my permission to share my articles and or video presentations with anyone you believe could benefit, however, I maintain ownership of the intellectual property AND my articles, video presentations, and eBooks are not to be considered OPEN SOURCE. Please also provide a link back to Second Chance to Live. In the event that you have questions, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions. I look forward to hearing from you. More Information: Copyright 2007 –2017
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