Eleventh Commandment: Love thyself

There was this popular song in the 80s by Whitney Houston, "The Greatest Love of All," which apart from being a favorite piece sung during Amateur Singing contests, has also somehow made an impact on me even while I was still very young.

Although at first, I have to admit that I thought it was too obvious and simple. After all, how difficult is it to love yourself??? In my young (and clueless!) mind, I thought you only have to count the number of times most people look at themselves in the mirror, or the number of hours some people spent "preening" themselves. Over time though, I realized that loving oneself is not really that simple nor easy for a lot of people.

When we were born, we have this innate narcissism in all of us. As we grow older however, because of too many extraneous variables, such egotism may be enhanced, balanced or completely wiped out of our system. The last "consequence" is the most damaging.

Insecurity creeps in even with those who normally has a healthy perception of themselves, particularly after a series of problems, rejections and failures.

But how does one gain back that self-esteem and positive outlook? --This is when loving oneself in a much deeper level comes in and this is also when it becomes a bit tricky and difficult. After all, affirming yourself when your husband/wife or lover just left you, or telling yourself that you're going to be fine after losing your job, or believing that you're still great after failing at something you've painstakingly worked for, isn't really something everyone does with ease.

We should therefore identify our limitations and strengths and realize that everything in this life aren't always within our control. It doesn't necesarily make us a complete loser if a relationship, career or something we are passionate about didn't worked out the way we want it to be.

As the song goes:

I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadows

If I fail, if I succeed At least I'll live as I believe

No matter what they take from me

They can't take away my dignity

Because the greatest love of all is happening to me

I found the greatest love of all inside of me

The greatest love of all is easy to achieve

Learning to love yourself -- It is the greatest love of all

I couldn't have said it any better!