Hari OM
Self-love is necessary, rather unavoidable. As long as self-deprecation is a badge of humility and spirituality, we will find it difficult to reach the higher climbs of contemplation. ⠀
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To despise ourselves is to exhibit a gross lack of appreciation of our source, the Lord. It is to accuse our Creator of inadequacy and incompetence. How can an individual, who doubts his own love and goodness, ever be spiritual? ⠀
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Our wrong perception of our self-love is that we equate what we are with what we have done. We ask ourselves, ʻHow can I love myself when I have so many faults?ʼ But we need not love our faults, nor love ourselves because of our successes and achievements. ⠀
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Despising our faults is different from blaming ourselves for having the faults. It is natural to make mistakes. Consider yourself as your own child. Children will be mischievous and will make mistakes. But parents will laugh them away. ⠀
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Proper self-love is having faith in the goodness in ourselves. A sense of guilt only brings in the same sin again and again into our mind. Don’t just ask for forgiveness; forgive yourself. Holding onto guilt is still focusing on the ego. ⠀
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To despise ourselves is to exhibit a gross lack of appreciation of our source, the Lord. It is to accuse our Creator of inadequacy and incompetence. How can an individual, who doubts his own love and goodness, ever be spiritual? ⠀
⠀
Our wrong perception of our self-love is that we equate what we are with what we have done. We ask ourselves, ʻHow can I love myself when I have so many faults?ʼ But we need not love our faults, nor love ourselves because of our successes and achievements. ⠀
⠀
Despising our faults is different from blaming ourselves for having the faults. It is natural to make mistakes. Consider yourself as your own child. Children will be mischievous and will make mistakes. But parents will laugh them away. ⠀
⠀
Proper self-love is having faith in the goodness in ourselves. A sense of guilt only brings in the same sin again and again into our mind. Don’t just ask for forgiveness; forgive yourself. Holding onto guilt is still focusing on the ego. ⠀
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The Lord cannot forgive us as long as we are feeling guilty and bringing up the same idea again and again in our mind. If we accept and acknowledge the mistake, it is forgiven. ⠀
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Once surrendered to Him, forget and forgive yourself. It is so simple if the surrender is total and complete.
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Once surrendered to Him, forget and forgive yourself. It is so simple if the surrender is total and complete.
This is something very important nowadays, I think, considering a number of cases of depression and other related emotional/mental issues.
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