Do you have to be sold on the merits of loving yourself? Does there have to be some end game that makes the efforts worthwhile? What is that makes self-love so challenging for so many of us ~ especially the Service Providers of the world?
I’ve said it before, most Service Providers I know, including myself are way more comfortable with the act of giving than receiving. When something is going wrong in the lives of those around us, we can become very uncomfortable and it’s near impossible to stop ourselves from trying to fix it. Even if we can hold ourselves back from acting, we are likely wound up in an internal knot. Holding our breath and clenching the proverbial wheel with white knuckles until everything settles down again. We might be keeping our fingers out of the pot, but we are energetically waiting for the boil.
To engage in the energy of self-love requires a well-developed capacity to receive. It may seem that it would be natural to receive loving energy from ourselves but if we are closed off or receptively challenged, it doesn’t matter where the offering is coming from, it simply cannot get through.
Lately, I have noticed this message over and over in various formats but at the core it reminds me that I “cannot give from an empty vessel.” I got to thinking ~ why does filling our own cup have to be directly related to giving of ourselves? Is it only valuable to shower ourselves with loving energy so that we can then give more?
I have been caught in that trap ~ well, probably most of my life, to be honest. When I first became keen on improving my health and well being, eating better, working out, giving up some vices, I was initially motivated by the desire to feel better. As I got into a new lifestyle and new practices and started to feel more comfortable in my own skin, I noticed a huge surge of energy. I had better mental clarity and a greater capacity for focus. I could get lots done and I did.
As some of you might relate, eventually the activities that were initially fuelled by desire morphed into just another chore. During the heightened energetic phase of my transformation, I took on additional commitments and responsibilities. One day, I realized that if I did not engage in the self-care activities that made up my routine, the whole structure would tumble. Now the motivation to take care of myself was solely focused on my being able to keep going with all that I had put on my plate.
I had to take care of myself so that I could take care of others ~ respond to others ~ meet my obligations. What initially felt like an act of self-love had turned into another reason to crack the whip at my own back.
Where’s the love in that?
The truth is that love is an energy ~ it is a feeling ~ and it is ultimately an act. Love itself does not differentiate between who and what is worthy of its gifts. Love does not judge and determine when to show up and how much to offer. With love, there are no limits. In love, there is no requirement to be met. Love is free and available to each of us at all times. This energy can be translated in a variety of ways ~ it doesn’t always look the same. It is however, divine in nature and unconditional in character.
If our desire is to love through thought, word, action and interaction, then we must include ourselves in the transaction. As we become more receptive to the energy of love, we will first reap the benefits within our own hearts and from there it naturally overflows to everything around us ~ including other people. It is not necessary to alter ourselves in any way or to prove to love that we will share its blessing. An open channel for love is inherently receptive and expressive all at once.
There are only two commitments involved:
- The willingness to become the open channel
- The commitment to include yourself in your demonstrations of love
Love will take it from there.
Join Us
Allow me to introduce Cindy Maki, my guest on the next episode of Serving Consciously at 12pm PST on Friday July 27, 2018 at www.ctrnetwork.com.
Cindy Maki is a Life Coach and Intuitive who is absolutely passionate about her work. She is a heart centered positive thinker who offers doing what she loves to facilitate others in living a life filled with passion, fulfillment and satisfaction.
Cindy is interested in all kinds of things but hands down her truest joy in life is to encourage and support people in finding and living their true, authentic selves.
As an intuitive and empath, she brings a unique body/mind/spirit approach to sessions with successful people who find themselves stuck or looking for answers in some area of their lives. Through coaching, energy work or a combination of services clients create change on a deeper level in a meaningful and powerful way. They get “unstuck” and move forward in life led by passion and fueled with certainty for the future.
Cindy is trained internationally in specialized coach training with Marcia Weider as well as co-active coaching through The Coaches Training Institute. She is a Reiki Master and has many different healing modalities to draw upon including her favourite modality; Nova Light Therapy. She received her certification in this modality in the beautiful setting of Maui and regards this gentle, life affirming energy work as the most powerful and profound she has ever experienced.
Cindy and I explore this journey toward self-love ~ and this is what it is ~ a journey as opposed to a destination. I hope you can join us then.
Let’s get started!
What resistance comes up for you when explore self-love in your own life?
Sign up to our members’ area for immediate access to free resources!