How Precious Are You to Yourself?

I once heard a beautiful passage from Archbishop Desmond Tutu on how precious each one of us is and I remember I cried.  It is easy to get caught up in the habit of beating ourselves up because we have not done enough or so and so, that I sometimes need to stop, be here and re-remember to cherish my preciousness to embrace my wholeness.  Below is one of my paintings, 'Whatever you think you are, you are infinitely more than that' Blessings

Re: How Precious Are You to Yourself?

It's sad that this is a rather touchy topic, when it has absolutely no reason to be…but the truth is it is asking “how selfish are you?” And you know what, I'll answer honestly: I am selfish.

The world has created a fight against each person's love for their self…the acknowledgement that we are, in fact, precious. But I won't succumb to this battle; I love myself! I love my beliefs and opinions, because I'd change them if I didn't love them. I love my body and work hard to keep it fit. I love my mind and use as often as I can. I love my soul and won't sell it or change it for anyone.

But, in loving myself, I don't ask anyone to love themselves any less. Just because I love my opinions and beliefs doesn't mean I hate those who disagree. I don't want anyone to hate their body if it isn't what I consider “in shape.” Not everyone thinks the same, and that's okay. And I will never ask anyone to sell or change their soul for me.

This is my selfish being. I love myself…and I certainly hope you love yourself as well :)

“Love your neighbor as yourself” Mark 12:31

“To be able to say 'I love you' one must first be able to say the I”-Ayn Rand

Re: How Precious Are You to Yourself?

I hate to admit it, but I am just starting to appreciate who I am. I never once before thought of myself as even remotely special, and when my life seemed to be falling apart I became suicidal. I know now that I am worth something, but like I said before, I never really thought of myself as anything special. In my mind I was simply expendable.
On top of that, I couldn't stand my appearance. This is only one of the first days I had my own account on this website, before I had used my friends account, and I just found myself mentioning something I liked about my body for the first time in about five years. Literally five years, and I meant what I said.
Then of course you have the personality aspect. I never truly knew who I was, and I don't think many 15 year old people do. Not truly that is. But I believe I am just starting to see who I am, and am uncovering things about myself that I never knew.
So to answer the question, I am in the early stages of trying to accept myself. But I hold myself precious enough now so that I want to keep on living.

Re: How Precious Are You to Yourself?

The Painting reminds me of my time at sea on my sloop Bold Venture.  When a storm was approaching, the sky would be the color in the painting at sunset. Many little white puffy clouds filled the sky.

When you are out there on a small boat in a storm, on your own, mysterious things can happen.  It is essential to steer a straight course, to keep the boat moving forward, and the faster the more control.   It's like walking a tight rope. A slight error in steering can mean disaster.  My hand of the wheel anticipated nature's rhythm.  I felt in control.  And so it is in your life, orchestrated.

Nothing equals experience. At sea, I became consciously aware of God's power in me. All the dogmas and doctrines of my Christian teaching became meaningless. I now interprete the Scriptures in a way that makes sense to me, and the same for the law.  In God's law and in man's law, in order to be the law it must be the same for everyone in all situations.  The law does not favor anyone, no matter for what good cause.

More lately, I've studied quantum mechanics. The microcosmic world does not behave the way our world behaves.  This does not mean that there is God's world and some other world. It means the universe is multidimensional.  In science, in the law, in religion, in the mind of man is the mind of God.

We can be consiously aware of no futher than the ends of our noses.  It is our choice.  We can let go of the trunk of the tree and go out on a limb for the fruit.

Chance favors the prepared mind. Until I went to sea, my life was like trying to climb a greased pole.  At sea, when everything could have gone wrong, everything went right.  One doesn't have to go to sea to be independent.

When I returned from my life at sea, I was captain of my ship.  And now, at age 83, if my life could be any better, I don't know how.

Re: How Precious Are You to Yourself?

Everyone means everything to themselves. without them, they would not fail nor succeed, live nor die. they'd just be taking up space without a mind because, you are everything to yourself.

Re: How Precious Are You to Yourself?

I am no more nor less precious to myself than everything else, living or not, of which I am a part, for without everything else exactly as it is, would I be who I am?  Would I be at all?