Stillness in the Storms Embracing Self-Love and Acceptance
Jun 4, 2023
A candid conversation about why self-love feels so hard when we know our inner critic. Personal stories about family, public life, and the pressure to appear perfect. Reflections on kindness, the middle way from Buddhism, and practical ways to create a safe space for yourself. Humorous and human moments that normalize imperfection and invite gentle self-acceptance.
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Inside Knowledge Makes Self-Love Hard
- We have inside information about our own thoughts and flaws, which makes self-love harder than loving others.
- Accepting that the mind generates protective but uncomfortable thoughts helps reframe self-judgment.
Growing Up Without Verbal Affection
- Steven shares he grew up in a family that rarely said "I love you" and that shaped his difficulty expressing self-love.
- He learned to be kinder to himself by treating his own mistakes like he would a child's mistakes.
Self-Love As The Middle Way
- Self-love isn't constant grandiosity but a balanced 'middle way' between arrogance and self-flagellation.
- Embracing fluctuating feelings allows honest acceptance rather than forcing perpetual positivity.