From Early Morning Buddhist Inspirations
Feb. 28th, 2010 11:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sabrinamari"Love is the capacity to take care, to protect, to nourish. If you are not capable of generating that kind of energy toward yourself- if you are not capable of taking care of yourself, of nourishing yourself, of protecting yourself- it is very difficult to take care of another person. In the Buddhist teaching, it's clear that to love oneself is the foundation of the love of other people. Love is a practice. Love is truly a practice."
~Thich Nhat Hanh
For me, self-love is not merely self-acceptance or self-esteem. It means that I make sure that I eat well, get enough exercise, and make enough to pay my own bills and take care of my own material needs when it is reasonable to do so.
I am worthy of decent health insurance, good primary and specialty care, a healthy savings account, and a set of career tracks that I love. I am worthy of an income that gives me the ability to save enough for my own retirement, with money left over for the things that bring me sheer joy. I return some of what I receive to those who have less, and I do it with delight.
This does not mean that I always have to make money, no matter what. Sometimes that's just not possible, and that's OK. However, it does mean that my intentions towards myself are strongly positive. When I can do so without severe physical or emotional consequences, I prioritize my own material well-being with gratitude for this marvelous opportunity to thrive.
~Thich Nhat Hanh
For me, self-love is not merely self-acceptance or self-esteem. It means that I make sure that I eat well, get enough exercise, and make enough to pay my own bills and take care of my own material needs when it is reasonable to do so.
I am worthy of decent health insurance, good primary and specialty care, a healthy savings account, and a set of career tracks that I love. I am worthy of an income that gives me the ability to save enough for my own retirement, with money left over for the things that bring me sheer joy. I return some of what I receive to those who have less, and I do it with delight.
This does not mean that I always have to make money, no matter what. Sometimes that's just not possible, and that's OK. However, it does mean that my intentions towards myself are strongly positive. When I can do so without severe physical or emotional consequences, I prioritize my own material well-being with gratitude for this marvelous opportunity to thrive.
