Loving Yourself - The Purpose of Your Life!

“To learn to love yourself is really the purpose of your life.” When I first heard this from a spiritual teacher, I was confused. My identity was taking care of others, being selfless and being of service. Then they expounded on this life lesson. “In healthy relationships, you make God first, yourself second and others third.” How can this be? I was utterly baffled.

However, I had to admit, my relationships and my life were not wonderful. I had been dumped by my fiance, I had no real friends to speak of, I was struggling financially and things were “complex” with my family. I was not sure I believed what they were saying, but I was ready to try something radically different. So, I set the intention to learn to love myself.

As I put my “Learning to Love Myself” practice into place, there appeared to be a shift. People started treating me with greater respect and kindness. I have come to know this Truth. We are attracted to people who treat us like we treat ourselves, and outer reality is a reflection of inner reality. In other words, we need to treat ourselves the way we want others to treat us.

Here are some “Learning to Love Oneself” action steps:
1. Set the intention to love yourself
2. Ask yourself often: “What honors me now”?
3. Answer the question: “How can I be nicer to myself?”
4. Do loving things for yourself: Get a massage; Buy yourself flowers; Take a leisurely walk in nature, or enjoy a candle lit bubble bath.
5. Ask yourself: “What brings me joy?” And do it – even if it seems like a “waste of time” or silly.

Consider for a moment which you would rather receive: A cup of sludge from the bottom of a well that is depleted? Or a clear, clean cup of water from a well that is overflowing? Learning to love yourself first and foremost fills your gas tank, puts you on solid ground, and supports you in giving from overflow and abundance, rather than exhaustion and deficit.
Love you, honor you, care for you, so you can give the very BEST of you to those you love.
You cannot authentically love from the outside in, you can only truly love from the inside out. For more, check out my book Manifesting Love From the Inside Out.

Dr. Tammi Baliszewski, www.tammibphd.com

Tapping into the Power of Appreciation

It has been said if we were to utter one prayer, and that prayer was of gratitude, it would be enough. It has also been said, appreciation, even more than love, is the animating force of the Universe. Just as the sunflower turns its face towards the sun, we as humans align with our Creator as we utter our heartfelt thanks.

It is a simple truth as we give thanks, we raise our vibration. This in turn helps us attract improved circumstances, positive opportunities, prosperity and synchronicity. But before I could teach this concept, or believe it, I had to learn it.

Years ago I struggled with depression, poverty and failed relationships. I meditated and asked my soul "Why?" I received this message: "Because you are paying attention to what is bad and wrong, rather than good and right." It was true. I was focused on the past and my "sad stories." But as I told those stories, I was attracting more of the same story. In that moment I realized if I wanted something different, I was going to have to do something different. Gratitude was the practice that helped me turn the steering wheel of my life in the direction of an empowered, prosperous and positive future.

These are the seven simple steps that initiated my transformation from victimhood to authentic power.

1. I purchased a "gratitude journal" and before getting out of bed in the morning, I wrote down anything and everything I could think of I was grateful for.

2. I began to consider, claim and write down all the things I appreciated about myself.

3. I committed to saying "thank you" to every person who gave me a compliment, held the door open, offered a kindness, service or consideration of any kind.

4. I mailed thank you cards and hand written notes to all of the people I loved and appreciated.

5. I volunteered for Hospice (volunteer work opens our hearts and moves energy in an extraordinary way!)

6. I started to pay attention and express my appreciation to the Universe for the beauty and abundance of nature and this world.

7. I ended each day lighting a candle, counting my blessings and for five minutes allowed myself to bask in the energy of grace, graciousness and gratitude.

Though the steps were simple, they started to shift my life in a powerful way immediately. Several years later I am living a prosperous, love filled, and glorious life. I am vibrantly healthy and have manifested the man, and the career, of my dreams.

Appreciation was the simple, yet powerful practice that opened my heart, raised my vibration and shifted my trajectory from a downward spiral, to an upward ascent. Spiritual law dictates, if you commit to yourself, and apply these simple principles, they can do the same for you.

Why Journey to Center?

People sometimes ask me why the name of my radio show, blog and website is “Journey to Center.”  What this means is the desire and intention to relax and reside in the very center of ourselves; the sacred space within.  When we live from our center, we are aligned with our soul.  It is like abiding in the safe haven within the eye of the storm. And though life still happens, and storms may still occur, from our center we can witness chaos without being consumed or beaten up by it.  Center is the space of equanimity and clear connection to the Divine. 

Have you ever had the experience of being “in the flow” or “in the groove”?  From this place life works easily, you feel happy for no particular reason, you witness miracles, beauty and synchronicity.  You also naturally attract awesome people and wonderful opportunities.  If you can relate to any of this, in those awesome moments, you were living from your center, and aligned with your soul self. The hard part of being human is getting back to that space once we step out of it!

This is exactly why I love to have conversations with other seekers/finders of consciousness, why I meditate, why I spend time in nature and why I paint mandalas. These are tools and activities that support me in coming back to center.  However, it often seems the further removed we are from this place, the more we resist doing what we need to do to get back to it!  It can be so compelling or enticing to go shopping, start eating, drinking, get on the phone, or watch some ridiculous television program. 

Yes, to live from center takes discipline. Are you going to meditate today?  Or are you going to distract yourself from yourself and go shopping?  It can be like getting physically fit, are you going to the gym today?  Or laze around and indulge in too much food.   Balance is key, but we need to spend 20 minutes in meditation and 30 minutes in the gym to have the fruits of those labors manifest.  To get to one’s center is simple...but it is not always easy.  The ego and/or personality does not like it very much, for the ego so enjoys indulgence and the illusion of control.  But our soul-self loves it! 

I found once I committed to my soul self, and let it take the lead, my life seemed to work more consistently with more grace and ease; and with less drama and chaos.   I find if I take care of my relationship my soul, the rest of my life takes care of itself.

So, what are some of the things you do to come back to center, to find your groove and to take good care of your Self?  How do you find your balance and the sacred space of peace within?  I would love to hear from you and begin our conscious conversation!

Also, listen to any of my podcasts on Empower Radio with my amazing experts and share your thoughts!

Blessings of grace, ease and sweet sanctuary!

http://www.empoweradio.com/home/shows/377-Journey-Center-with-Tammi-Baliszewski.html