Spirituality is not all about giving to others. It is also about giving to the self. Loving oneself is an emotional and mental issue for a lot of people. Spirituality is all about loving oneself. Until we learn to love & accept ourselves, we cannot really love and accept others. Most people consider the word 'love' in terms of their relationship with someone else. We can't forget the most intimate relationship we have; the one with oneself. Loving ourselves is not about ego or feeling the most important person in the world. It is about being responsible for our happiness and health, so that we can be at our very best for our loved ones and others. 

All healing starts with loving yourself.
What does it mean to love oneself?

Accepting the things that I can't change
Working on the things that I can change
Taking care of my body, mind and spirit
Getting my needs met
Setting healthy boundaries
Facing my fears and challenges with empathy
Being responsible for my actions, thoughts and feelings
Practicing self-love, self-care, self-acceptance
Working on my self-esteem 
Practicing gratitude & compassion 
Balancing the act of giving & receiving 
Participating in my own happiness; having fun
Practicing forgiveness; for myself and others
Spending quality time with my loved ones & friends
Reading a good book; educating myself
Meditating; yoga, exercising, walking in nature.
Healthy diet; eating more consciously
knowing that I am enough, do enough and have enough
Knowing when to let go & let god (higher-self or whatever you call it)
Practicing honesty & affirmations
Giving back to the world
Living in my heart & truth
Letting go of judgments, gossiping and lies
Practicing kindness; to myself & others
Having enough sleep & downtime
Having faith; asking for help when I need it
Trusting in myself & life
Keep working on my personal growth
Loving & accepting where I am in my life
Knowing that I'm okay; life is not always easy but it's certainly good. 
Watching for 'all or nothing', 'black & white' thinking, & generalization
Don't assume or jump to conclusions
Staying open minded
Staying grounded & standing tall
​Being at peace with myself & others

-Courageous Butterfly

"We can spend our whole life living in fear, worrying about what people think or about the future, but we can also make conscious decisions. Fear is part of life, but we get to decide how much, we have that power. The decisions that we make in every moment are either based on love or fear. Let's think about that?"

- Courageous Butterfly

"Our need for acceptance can make us feel small, stuck and invisible. Risk to express yourself. Risk in being you. Let your voice be heard. Let yourself be seen. Be you. All of you. Don't wait for anyone to tell you how to live your life. Don't wait for people's approval. There are only two choices here; love or fear. We decide how we want to live today."
​
 I choose love, I choose me.
- Courageous Butterfly

I am about to enter into a new chapter in my life. I want to say to my Self, don't be afraid. Trust in your gut feelings. Life is good. Breathe each step. Breathe each moment. Move through it with confidence and trust in your heart. You have everything you need to move forward with your dream. You are good enough. You can do this. I know you can. You are ready. Think about the distance you have already walked on this earth. Let each breath guide you and remind you of your strengths, power and capacity to move mountains. You can reach the peak and become whatever your devoted heart desires.

It's time to dare greatly my friend! 
Let go of all fears, and let your divine-Self be the writer of your next chapter.

Trust. 
Believe. 
I am.

Don't hold back from expressing LOVE because you are afraid of being rejected, or of seeming needy or weak. The needy thing was one of my biggest self-doubts. I thought that if I love too much or had the need to feel loved, it was because I was too needy and insecure. Loving fully is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of bravery. Loving with your whole heart takes a lot of courage, because we are exposing who we really are to the whole world, and we are taking a chance on being hurt.
I was taught in some point in my life that being too loving or affectionate, was a sign of weakness, and that it was not necessary for happiness or survival. It takes a lot of courage to love fully and completely; to say I love you to someone who is uncomfortable with the words, and who would probably not say it back. 
For some reason, these three little words I love you makes people feel very uncomfortable. I find it so very sad that for some of us, it's easier to say, I hate you, then I love you. 
In my thirties, I held back my love for the fear of being too needy, and then I allowed myself to love a little. I soon realized that loving a little, was also feeling a little. I was not being true to myself. I was not fully living my life. I felt small. As soon as I made the decision to love fully and completely something amazing happened. I became more and more of who I really am. I found my true purpose, the meaning of my life. I opened my heart to God and heard whispers. I was ready to be me; the real me. I opened the doors to my own yoga studio, a place where I can share my heart and thoughts. I published my first book which helped me to embrace my story. My book enables me to connect with the world and becoming a voice of hope for many who had similar challenges. I am now moving forward with my dream, as I really want to participate in making a difference. I am enrolling into a two-year spiritual psychotherapy program to continue with my purpose, which is to help others to recognize their own power, potential and inner peace. 

Loving fearlessly, living your life fully is the most courageous thing we can do, because we are allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and real. Don't let the fear of exposing your insecurity, or the fear of being hurt, or the fear of rejection to hold you back. Love with your whole heart, love what you do, love yourself, love your neighbour, and see the change you are creating not only in your own life, but all around you. Begin to love now. When you choose to express, share, give, and receive LOVE, life will support you in every possible way, and you will no longer feel separated. This reality begins within us and then spread out into the world. It will transform how you feel inside, how you see life, how you relate to others and how you live your life. But first you have to make the conscious decision to live in your heart.

Be as loving as possible,
Love & Light