You Can’t Give What You Don’t Have
Several years ago, I had the good fortune to attend a presentation by Anita Moorjani, author of Dying to Be Me. I bought and read her book. Anita Moorjani, had an NDE after suffering from cancer. Her visit to the other side gave her special insight and clear understanding of what life is, and isn’t, and what love is. Until her NDE, she lived more to please others, rather than be herself. This caused a lot of quiet suffering and failing to experience self-fulfillment. The following excerpt from her book is shared to help you to live the life you are here to live.
Q. Wouldn’t too much self-love make people selfish and egotistical?
A. Once we understand that each of us is at the heart of the infinite universe, our centrality to the Whole becomes paramount, and we see the value in loving the self. We can’t give what we don’t have.
In my culture, I was taught to put others first and myself last, if not at all. I wasn’t taught to love myself or to value who and what I am. As a consequence, I had very little to offer others. Only when we fill our own cup with regard for ourselves, will we have any to give away. Only when we love ourselves unconditionally, accepting ourselves as the magnificent creatures we are with great respect and compassion, can we ever hope to offer the same to anyone else. Cherishing the self comes first, and caring for others is the inevitable outcome.
Selfishness comes from too little self-love, not too much, as we compensate for our lack. To say “I love you” when I have no matching emotion for myself is play-acting. It’s not real. Affection for the self and others is the same thing. We’re all one – all interconnected. Having awareness of our own divinity can help us to see our magnificence and worthiness for love without conditions. Once we understand this, offering the same to everyone else becomes much easier. – Anita Moorjani, Dying To Be Me. (Used by permission.) I highly recommend her book.
In my book, Positively Alive! is a chapter entitled, Put Yourself Up! If you don’t put yourself up, no one else will. You have more genuine value than you may have realized for yourself, so far. Many years of counseling experience has taught me that many people do not have a sufficiently high opinion or concept of themselves.
Whatever you have been taught, or have learned along the way, you are worth more, can do and be more than you are presently. When you truly love yourself as the beautiful child of God that you are, you realize that you are wonderful. You are loved. In Truth, you are Love!
– Lovingly, Rev. John
* * * *
Positive Prayer
I love myself and all people unconditionally.
* * * *
Golden Keys to Answered Prayer …
We build our capacity to receive. Today, through our thoughts, words, and feelings, we are building our capacity to receive the answer to tomorrow’s prayers. Our capacity to receive is built on faith, vision, and expectancy, and loving ourselves. The height of our expectancy, and the steadfastness of our vision and love, set the measure. The more love we feel, the greater our faith and expectancy.
In the Mail …
More Peace and Harmony! – Thank you for your loving and caring letter, and for praying with me. Things around my home are more harmonious now, and more peaceful, too. Thank you for keeping me on your prayer list. I am enclosing my tithe in support of your wonderful work. – New York
Prayer Makes a Difference! – I wrote to you last month to ask you to pray with me to keep my salary from being reduced, and also for success with my business venture. I am so happy I wrote to you. My salary was not reduced, but increased! My business venture is going very well and I feel confident and positive that it will continue. Thank you. – Georgia
Bytes of Wisdom …
Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours. Every person, all the events of your life are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you. – Richard Bach
When you truly love yourself, it is easier to Live Life Lovingly. – Rev. John
Yes, risk-taking is inherently failure prone. Otherwise, it would be called sure-thing-taking. – Tim McMahon
A Little Humor …
The following dialogue took place at family court in Australia:
Q. “What was the first thing your husband said to you when he woke up that morning?”
A. “He said, ‘Where am I, Cathy?”
Q. “And why did that upset you?”
A. “My name is Susan.”