Geoffrey Hope writes in the newsletter of Shaumbra “If I were a king” about self-value and about how many people lack of it. I agree completely and suggest to wear a kind of crown sometimes to feel the power of the own personnality.
If I were a King, I would proclaim September to be the official “Love Thyself First” month. Everyone would be encouraged to do one Act of Kindness to Self each week during the month. The official statement would suggest doing things like:
Get a massage.- Buy some new clothes or shoes.
- Go to dinner at a nice restaurant with your Self.
- Take a long walk in nature.
- Buy an iPod, load it with jammin’ music, put on the headsets and dance naked in the moonlight.
- Buy a nice bottle of wine (at least $20 Euro) and sip it while sitting along the lakeshore on a sunny September afternoon.
- Take a long hot bath. Schedule at least one hour of uninterrupted time.
- Take the day off of work during the middle of the week. Go for a long drive by your Self.
- Give yourself the gift of Aliyah.
But alas, very few people would heed the proclamation. I think that the majority of people would feel oddly guilty about putting themselves first. Others might be momentarily inspired by the idea but then procrastinate until the month came to an end, telling themselves, “Maybe I’ll do it next year.” Humans can be so predictable.
We’re programmed that it’s selfish to think of yourself first. From the earliest ages we’re taught that there’s something perverted about Self-consideration. It’s devastating for a child to be told by a parent or teacher that, “You’re selfish!” like they just committed a horrible crime. We’re told that service to God, nation, community and family come long before service to Self. In the holy books of Islam, Judaism and Christianity we’re reminded that God frowns on Self-ishness, such as with this passage from the Bible:
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one an-other as more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3-8 (NASB)
See also Osho: Love Yourself
