No one can live our lives for us. We must come to our own truth. We say there is only one Truth. How can we say that when everyone is entitled to their own truth? We can say this because Truth is individual to each person in that they experience it through their own consciousness. However, there is only one Truth and that Truth is Love. This is not a cliché. It is not a Valentine. It is not a superficial expression that relies on what another person feels about us. It is us. Love is us, each of us.

If we were to live in our heart space we would understand this totally. Our heart is our Center and holds this Truth as close as the air we breathe in and out. Our heart will lead us to this place of loving unfoldment.

The only reason I am pondering this today is because I thought I was brought up in an atmosphere that did not promote love, most especially self-love. What I’ve come to realize is that this is not the truth. I made it up because of the way I thought I was being treated. But, love has nothing to do with the way we are treated. Love is something that we find ourselves. Yes, we can promote it in another person. My grandmother always told me I was a “good girl” and treated me with love, but it wasn’t until I found it in myself that it became true for me.

What I’ve come to realize is that all the stuff I fabricated about the memories of my childhood were people doing their best to love themselves. They were struggling, and I sometimes became the pawn in that struggle. It wasn’t that they didn’t love me. They loved me very much. But, how much can we love another person when that love is coming from an empty well.

My ministry is about loving myself, so I can love you. Although, we might have been brought up thinking this is a selfish act – to love oneself – it is the greatest act of sacrifice that we will ever perform. Loving one’s self means we have to sacrifice everything we’ve ever thought opposite to that. It means that we have to sacrifice our negative self-talk. It means we have to respect the greatest Spirit that lies within each of us and give it our full attention.

In the practice of Hawaiian Ho’oponopono we say, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I love you. Thank you.” To whom are we talking? We are talking to the highest part of ourselves that we might have deserted or mistreated through the holding back of self-love and respect and self-knowing. This part of ourselves reflects out into the world and creates that same separation between us and others.

Today is the day that I accept that I am free to fully love myself. It doesn’t matter my past. The past is gone and today is here. There is no future. Only today, to truly love myself.

I invite you to join me on the journey of self-love. The planet will be so better for our journey.

Love and Aloha,

Rita Andriello-Feren, Spiritual Director CSL Kaua`i, Spiritual Coach and Author of “What Do I Need to KNOW? 101 Thought That Changed My Life” available here on AMAZON