Otis Posted February 8, 2011 How does one increase self love? Personally, I don't see usefulness in "increasing self love". Nor usefulness in self love, at all. Of course, I also don't see any usefulness in attacking or despising the self. My preference is: no self image at all, neither positive nor negative. I think there's an alternative to self love that has all the power, with none of the ego traps. And that is: loving my life. Not love life as an evaluation: "my life is good". Because that's all based on comparison to a fantasy of how good someone else's life is (or a memory about my previous experiences). Rather, love life as in: live in constant wonder and appreciation for the opportunity to be alive, no matter what particular conditions happen to be at the moment. If I love life, then I don't need to find "compassion", because loving my life means loving all the contents of my life, including other people. Nor do I need to find "self love" because I am not separate from my life. If I live as a distinct organism to whom life happens, then I am wary of life, because it is what brings suffering. But if I accept suffering as just one of the many flavors of this adventure, then I embrace all experience. Indeed, "I" am indistinct from experience. So, no, I don't believe in affirmations and other self-love techniques, because they seem to be just reinforcing the sense of self, which reinforces separation from life. Rather I say: forget the self, and just love the process of living. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
XieJia Posted February 8, 2011 (edited) How does one increase self love? maybe give it up? edited: sorry didn't read the ending of Otis' post. Edited February 8, 2011 by XieJia Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maddie Posted February 9, 2011 Secret smile and Zhan Zhuang And most important... :lol: In that case I'm well on my way lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
