love self

Lately I have been really hard on myself for some things. I am trying to think of myself as someone else. If I were a small child, or a friend with the same problems, I would not treat myself the way I do. I am trying to step outside myself in order to comfort and nuture myself. I am trying to remember that I deserve compassion, even from myself.

Taking better care of myself is part of loving myself, so some of my self-improvement goals type goals are ok. However some of the more my more superficial-type goals may be holding me back from achieving this goal in the complete sense. I think this is something I will always struggle with. I recently spent $$$ on laser hair removal, and a series of photofacials to correct pigmentation on my face. I actaully feel like it is getting worse (the hyper-pigmentation) although I am undergoing treatments and using more sunscreen. Then I wondered if I am just hyper sensitive to the imperfections. 9 months ago it was a bump on my nose, that I then had my dermatologist remove, that was my main concern. The more improvements I do to my appearance, the more I appear to myself to need more improvements. This is not good. However, I am not ready to give up these things…

If you depend on your relationships for happiness, you will either be happy or sad as your relationships rise and fall.

That is the fate of those who depend on others for their happiness. To avoid such a fate, wed your happiness to that which endures: the path of the superior persion. A quite self-contained joy, desiring nothing from without, and resting content with everything, remains independent and free, and in this freedom lies good fortune because it harbors the quite security of a heart fortified within itself.