Do you love yourself? How much love do you have towards yourself? A close friend lost his dream girlfriend who said she can't fall in love with a man who loves himself. It came out as a shock since my friend, a believer in the Christian teachings on love that you should love others as you love yourself, lost terribly in the debate on trying to justify his stand. What he failed to make, is the meaning that the girl got from the phrase,' I love myself'.
May be the said fellow was and probably is not alone in the semantic dilemma. What is the meaning that you associate with the phrase loving one's self? Does it make you happy to love yourself? Do you love yourself publicly or privately? How often do you love your self? Do you shy or feel embarrassed when one talks about it?
According to Erich Fromm (1956), loving one's self means caring about one's self, taking self responsibility, respecting yourself by being realistic and honest about one's strengths and weaknesses. His argument differed from the assertion that loving oneself involved egocentrism, arrogance and conceit.
The concept of loving oneself further deepens to the next level known as narcissism, which simply means excessive love for oneself and the sexual desire for one's own body. Narcissistic personalities have the tendencies feeling so powerful and self adequacy.
Albeit in small numbers in relation to the population, the effects are self destructive. This personality is common amongst men.
In further clarification on the concept of loving oneself, the idea of having sexual desires to one's own body may be the main reason why the lady couldn't give the guy a chance in her life. How should she live with a person who loves himself?
Loving yourself is highly recommended but not to the extent of narcissism. If you don't love yourself, depression is very likely to camp unto your wellbeing. It is only by self love that you learn to appreciate your abilities and utilize them to the level best. It is by self love that you enjoy self esteem and it’s only by self love that you learn to dismiss inferiority complex. It is also through self love that you learn being assertive and decisive, not desperate to anyone who thinks to intimidate you.
The best version of self love involves awarding yourself when you meet the set goals, setting practical and realistic goals.The concept of the highest soaring eagle achieves and strengthens the self love ideology.
Love yourself. Don't be a narcissist. Appreciate your strengths, but don't let them be your weaknesses.
Have oneself love, won't you?
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