October 29, 2025- Self love sets an example

If you don’t think much of yourself, why should I, since you obviously know yourself better than anyone else?

~Philip Zimbardo

Self love sets an example. It shows us how to love, and it shows others how to love us. We must accept and respect the responsibility of being a role model of love.

We take liberties with the people we are closest to that we would never take with a stranger. Sure, it’s fun to throw some good natured digs toward our closest friends and family members. We don’t need to take ourselves so seriously that we need to crumble at every little jab. Sometimes, though, the criticisms can be less laughable. Sometimes, we feel like we can be brutally honest with the people we love the most. While there is nothing wrong with honesty, is there any reason it needs to be brutal?

The person we are closest to is ourselves. Too often, this is the place where the greatest brutality of all takes place. Within our own self talk, the concept of unconditional love can be scarce. We somehow feel it’s OK to talk to ourselves in a way we wouldn’t talk to either our most cherished love or our most bitter enemy. We consistently tear ourselves down with harsh, insensitive language, and bitter criticism. We fail to offer ourselves grace.

Let the way you treat and talk to yourself provide an example of uncompromising, unconditional love. See yourself as a friend and treat yourself accordingly.