Selfish
- Selfless - Self-Love
by Marie T. Russell
Someone asked me the other day if loving myself and putting
myself first was selfish. As I endeavored to explain the difference, I realized
that there is a fine line between the two. The major qualification, when
talking about loving yourself, is whether you are referring to the self or
Self. These are two distinct different levels of awareness.
'Selfish' comes from the level of " needy,
greedy" and the "don't have enough" syndrome. Or as Webster defines
selfish -- "being overly concerned with one's interest and having little
concern for others". Being selfish is ignoring the Highest Good, and
focusing only on our own little "desires and needs".
On the other hand, the 'Self'
in Self-Love knows that we are of a
Higher Essence and that in its bounty the Universe has provided for us all. It
knows that loving oneself means loving the
"self" in all others as well, since
we are all "one and the same". We
are all spirit living a human experience and
here to live and learn. Here to
"be".
Once we rest secured in that knowledge, we move away from
the need to be selfish. We then know for a fact that there is more than enough
for everyone, and that we are always safe and protected. Our actions will stem
from the Higher Self... from an innate knowing that what we do is for the
highest good of all — including ourselves — because we are listening to the
promptings of Spirit.
When we love ourselves, we are acknowledging our divine
nature. We therefore, forgive ourselves for at times having chosen darkness over
light, hatred over love, and fear over faith. Some say that when we make
mistakes, those mistakes make us evil. That is not true! We simply have
temporarily forgotten the truth of who we are. We are still Children of God no
matter what we have done in the past. As Jesus said to Mary Magdalene,
"Your sins have been forgiven. Go and sin no more!" We must take this
same attitude with ourselves... and with the people in our lives.
We must learn to love and accept ourselves completely —
both
in our perfection and our foibles. We need to forgive ourselves. We need to
realize that we will make mistakes at times, and that these mistakes are part of
the learning process.
Have
compassion for yourself and do not judge yourself harshly for making mistakes
(or sins, if you prefer that terminology). You may have believed that you were
"bad" and you wore the behavior that fit the belief. You thus were
like a sheep in wolves clothing — a child of God who tried on the costume of the
"fallen angel". Remind yourself often that you have outgrown the
costume and the role. Acknowledge the truth of who you are... Divine.
Loving yourself means acknowledging who you are, where
you've been, and where you are going. To determine if your behavior is selfish,
ask yourself if your action is being directed by the 'self' or the 'Self.' When
in doubt, ask your conscience... If you don't believe you have one, check
again. We all know deep inside when we are being honest, loving, supportive, or
when our behavior is directed by fear, lack, and resentment.
Examine your motives, listen to the voice of your Higher
Self. It will always lead you on the path of Light, Love, Peace, Wisdom, and
Joy. Listen more to your Self -- your self with a capital S. Let the fears, doubts, and resentments fall by
the wayside... they are incompatible with the 'Self.' They do not fit in the
aura of a being devoted to Light and Love. Those are crutches that are not
needed — you are already whole.
It's time to return to your true essence... Stand up and
realize that you are healed of the past simply by your desire to "sin no
more". Become who you really are...Your actions will come from the Higher
Self — not self-ish.
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