THE JOY OF LOVING MYSELF 

by Rayna Lumbard, LMFT

     You've heard it all before: unblock your potential, tune into your spiritual guidance, follow that guru, listen to this tape, transform your mind, feel all your feelings, and whatever you do--you must love yourself. 

     With all the self-help books, healing tapes, and enlightening personal growth seminars abounding--many of which almost demand that we be clear, present, and loving--it's no wonder most of us feel overwhelmed! 

     The New Age has a new focus--we know now that self-caring and self-esteem are not the same as "selfish." Loving yourself is a way of life that is essential--for optimal physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.  Loving yourself is also at the core of loving others.   

     So why does it seem such an awesome task to take on, especially for women?  It all started from our childhood experiences. The ways our parents and others "loved" us often didn't feel good to us. We learned that others' needs were more important than our own. So how do we learn how to truly love ourselves?  How do we open to the loving nature that is innately ours? 

     There are many ways to approach this essential, life-affirming, transformative process.  One way I learn to love myself is by opening my heart to people who embody unconditional love: skilled counselors, spiritual teachers, caring friends, bodyworkers, and others who are available to support me in breaking through internal barriers.  I ultimately rely on my own inner wisdom and still small voice of love to guide me to experience the depths and heights of my being, where my own answers are.  I am really learning to accept myself being and feeling perfect as I am, whole, complete, and at peace with myself.  As I resonate to my Truth, I am AT ONE with all around me. 

    Now I am clear that my goal is to create my life in ways that will truly fulfill me.  I attract loving and fulfilling relationships with others who are aligned with my energy and purpose. These loving souls complement my talents and playfulness in many ways that help me release negative thoughts from the past.  I happily release beliefs such as, if I am myself, others will reject me, or that being me is undeserving or worthy of love or abundance. I am then free to harmonize with others and together our energies express through music, ceremonies, and other sacred avenues--creating a symphony of love that resonates out into the Universe.  

     I feel a new sense of personal power surging through my veins.  I am truly alive as I awaken to my spiritual transformation.  I have broken out of my safe but restrictive cocoon to fly as freedom calls to me.  Now I trust my own abilities to work and play feeling the joy and passion of connecting from my heart's desire.    

     When I love myself unconditionally, I make friends with my body, no matter what size or condition it is in.  As I become my own nurturer, I find out why my inner child self has "chosen" to be in pain or out of shape.  I keep listening to myself so that I heal the wounds from the past that have kept me stuck in old patterns that no longer serve me.  I send in healing rays of light, sound, my spirit guides, or other energies to complete the process.  I find pleasure in healing myself physically through my emotions and spirit.  Now I do believe that I deserve to be happy, healthy, and loved!  By loving myself, I accept my body's changes and do what feels right to stay energetic and youthful. 

     Humor is another way I love myself.  When I take myself lightly, I tune into the richness that life offers as well as the valuable lessons that help me grow.  I find kindred spirits who laugh and play with me.  I take one day at a time and stay grounded in who I am and what's important to me.  I can be spontaneous as well as mindful and focused, in a balance that works for me.   

     I consciously decide how I choose to spend my time and energy.   I treat life as a special gift that has been giving to me to enjoy.  I am an artist expressing life through acts of lovingkindness similar to a weaver making a beautiful tapestry of rich colors blending together to form a whole picture--a true work of art!  I am honest in how I represent myself as I express those qualities that are most important to me: harmony, creativity, fluidity, love, peace, joy, and sacredness for life.  I accept my humanness, and breathe in a deep sense of knowing that all is in divine order in my universe.   

     The clarity I feel now comes from knowing and trusting that WE ARE ALL LOVE. I am truly committed to sharing love in healthy ways, to assisting others in transforming their lives as well as in transforming our beautiful planet.  My journey through life as a loving channel of healing love energy is intimately involved with finding creative solutions to old personal, social, and planetary challenges. 

     New and meaningful adventures await us all as we live in the new millennium.  We have new challenges as our global family faces the darkness of terrorism head on. It is time to drop our facades and join together in creating everyday miracles that bring healing to ourselves and to others. It is our personal responsibility to generate love not hate, compassion not indifference, and positivity. Only then will the higher energetic vibrations of love and peace heal families, communities, and the nations of the world and ensure that our precious Mother Earth will thrive and support life worthy of Her.  

Rayna Lumbard is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Hypnotherapist, Psychospiritual Healer and Creativity Coach in Saratoga.  She specializes in “InnerSuccess Transformations,” positive pathways to health and wholeness.  She also co-hosts The Awareness Network, a weekly networking meeting promoting personal healing, spiritual, and professional growth in San Jose. Rayna can be reached on her website at www.InnerSuccesss.com and at(408)358-3756.