I'm here today. Feeling a bit better. I started a swimming class last night. I was so nervous about it, but I had a great time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsunamisurfer
Great! That is what my wife has to remind me of from time to time. It isn't so much that I have a bad view of her but rather that I fail to realise that I could possibly be worth loving - so the negative interpretation of what she says takes preference.
I'm glad you have him back home.
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Yes, too many people believe in their heart of hearts that they're unlovable. My son does. I do. My father told me that he did. Possibly most of us feel this way, but we don't want to examine it because it causes us shame.
When we don't love ourselves, we can't properly love other people. We end up doing violence to ourselves and others and cause everyone to suffer.
The
metta meditation is used to cultivate compassion. We always start with ourselves, wishing happiness and freedom from suffering for ourselves, then we wish it for a loved one, a neutral person, an enemy, and finally we extend our wish to everyone. It's very, very difficult for me to start with myself, but more and more I'm coming to realize that if I can't feel compassion, love, friendliness, kindness for myself, I can't truly give it to anyone else either. Probably sounds very corny, but it's true. Open your heart to yourself and then you can open your heart to others.