Self-love does not translate to narcissism. Self-love simply means having high self-esteem and self-respect. You know your worth, and you’re not going to allow others to trample you. You’re not going to be a martyr and let someone walk all over you.
You can be a selfless person without sacrificing your self-love. The truth is that you can only be truly selfless if you love yourself.
If you’ve made it your life’s goal to someday become free and unencumbered by all the things that are holding you back now, then you should start by loving yourself first.
With self-love, you don’t need to worry about what other people think of you. You’re not going to be hindered by other’s opinions. You know you’re doing the right thing, and nothing’s going to stop you. You’ll start experiencing freedom in ways you’ve never known before.
For instance, you can start pursuing your dreams without waiting for other people to agree with what you want to do. As long as you’re not putting anyone – including you – in harm’s way, then there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t proceed with your goals.
Now, just because you love yourself and you don’t let yourself be weighed down by others’ opinions doesn’t mean you’re going to stop listening to good advice.
Don’t let your pride get in the way. If you receive advice that’s going to help you reach your goals faster, then surely there’s no harm in applying that tip!
If you let pride get in the way, and you tell yourself you’re better than everyone else, then that’s no longer self-love. That’s just arrogance and cockiness.
Remember, your journey to freedom may be self-initiated, but it doesn’t mean you’re not going to come across other people in your journey. People who are going to help you get from point A to point B. People who will make your journey a whole lot easier. These could be your family, friends, colleagues, even random strangers on the street!
When you become self-centered, no one’s going to want to help you. So, make sure you keep your self-love at a healthy level. Loving yourself way too much can be dangerous and will be detrimental to your success. In the end, it may even cost you the happiness and freedom you’ve worked so hard to achieve.