From a Cistern to a Fountain: The Life-Changing Power of Self-Love

Once upon a time, my world was a blank canvas that everyone else seemed to paint on. I existed as an open book, letting others author their stories on my pages while my own narrative was silenced and shoved into the margins. My soul was like an all-you-can-take buffet, feeding a plethora of toxic people who were always hungry for more, while I was left starving, yet curiously unable to understand why I was always empty.?

We all yearn for a sense of belonging, and this shared desire shapes our motivations and actions. However, for many of us, our attempts at finding connection are riddled with self-sacrifice, as we often confuse giving ourselves away with gaining acceptance from others. But let me share a game-changing truth: learning to love myself was the key to unlocking the door of genuine connections and fulfillment.?

When I began to cultivate self-love, I noticed a shift in my life's landscape. The once barren well of my soul started to fill up. For years, I had given away everything I earned, my time, energy, and even my happiness, to ensure those around me lived comfortably. Not because of a greed for money, but out of an earnest yearning to provide a better life for my family than the one I had known.?

But with time, I learned an invaluable lesson: people only take what you allow them to. Through the journey of self-discovery, being brutally honest and taking accountability for my actions were the steppingstones. It was only when the clarity of this truth set in that I realized I was the architect of my own life – the mastermind behind both my victories and setbacks.?

Acknowledging this reality lifted a colossal weight off my soul. I was indebted to only myself, and this sense of independence felt like the sweetest salvation. This newfound freedom allowed me to navigate life with the intention of living fully, instead of merely surviving each day.?

With the demolition of the mental barriers, I had erected over the years, a tidal wave of repressed emotions came crashing in. Past experiences that I had compartmentalized and forgotten flooded back. The wave was terrifying, filled with tears, laughter, anger, and joy, but it was also immensely cathartic.?

In the aftermath of this emotional tsunami, I discovered grace. I realized that each day was a gift, a fleeting chance to live life to the fullest. I chose to reclaim my joy and happiness, to live my life to its fullest potential. With my cup now overflowing with self-love, I am finally able to give back to the world without depleting myself. I now understand that, together, we can accomplish anything. The journey of self-love was the momentous change I never knew I needed but will forever be grateful for. Now, I can genuinely love others, not from my emptiness, but from my abundance.?