SELF-LOVE IS A PUBLIC SERVICE

Self-compassion is a public service.

Feel into the soft tissues within your body, the pulsating blood vessels, the warmth of your skin.

Now, gently and softly with your palms

caress your face.

Carefully and lyrically with the tips of your finger

stroke your hair.

Have a love affair with yourself.

Look into the mirror, and have tenderness

towards your aging body.

Look into your own eyes,

and appreciate the years of wisdom accumulated and piercing through.

Self-love is a public service.

By loving yourself to the best of your ability,

by granting yourself the right to laugh, dance, to take in love and pleasure,

you are watering one extra plant on the planet,

And that will create a ripple effect.

By allowing yourself to become the best that you can be, you are bringing beauty, joy and wisdom into the world.

You do not have to DO anything through conscious effort.

Just by standing tall in your own skin, demonstrating dignity and self respect, you are a role model.

You do not have to create beauty. You are beauty.

You do not have to express love explicitly. You are radiating love.

So, if you want to be ‘productive’, if you can only afford to do one good thing for today, love yourself.

Start with one small act. A soft hum of grace to yourself, a tight hug to yourself, a warm bath gifted to yourself.

Self-love is a public service.

Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion.

- Rumi

THIS WEEK’S EXPERIMENT: Write a Love Letter to Yourself

Firstly, create an envelope. If you can, pick up some cards, papers, stickers or washi tape and design your own envelope.

Now, on a piece of paper of your choice, write a love letter to yourself.

Write about all the things you appreciate about yourself, and consider what your body and mind have done for you.

If the urge to be harsh or critical of yourself comes in, see if you can breathe through it, and return to the exercise.

You might end the letter with some encouraging words.

Now, put the letter in the envelope, and put it next to your bedside.

Make it a practice to read the letter once a day.

You can also go back to the letter whenever you feel distressed.