A Love Letter To Myself!

In the July issue we had asked our readers to send us love letters written to their own selves. Here are some of the shortlisted ones. More will follow in the September issue

I love myself more than I love others because I deserve it and no one else will do it the way I do. It is foolproof because I will not be disappointed by rejection or by not being reciprocated. My love for myself is unconditional and without any expectation unlike most other forms of love I get. I believe that love and happiness from external sources are temporary and illusory. Hating myself is the worst I can do to myself. It does not solve problems. My confidence increases when I love myself, accept what I am, and overlook all my faults, failures and shortcomings. When I love myself I get inner peace. This is my birthright!

Self-love is not egoism/ egotism, selfishness or narcissism. I love my looks, major achievements, and the ambition to excel. My ego is my sense of self importance and self esteem. This, according to psychologists, is a mental asset without which a person cannot have a healthy personality and a wise and resourceful mind. This helps one to face a variety of threats in life like anxiety, guilt, depression and conflicting emotions. So if I am egoistic it is due to my love for self and the need to protect it. The word ‘egoism’ comes from the French root ‘egoisme’ which means interest in self. Egotism means the tendency to attract attention to oneself. The egoist looks at himself; the egotist wants others to look at him.

I don’t find anything wrong with this. These are basic human needs and desire for motivation. I have to blow my trumpet; otherwise, others may use it as a spittoon. I don’t claim to be a saint to say I have no ego.