Self love is a very popular topic, especially the last few years. As positive an idea as it seems, I find it's definitely a mixed bag.

Growing up, I was a chubby kid, but in my late teens and early twenties, I became morbidly obese. I endured sexual abuse at the age of 7, and that set the tone for the decline of my self-esteem.

Even as I’m writing this I realize I’m becoming super analytical and choking back the more creative side of me.

Another great example is that part of me still feels that I’m only loveable under certain conditions. Funny how those conditions change depending on who’s judging us.

The world grooms us to always put others first and that any excessive liking of yourself is frowned upon and you’re quickly labeled egotistical and selfish.

It is more acceptable and actually often encouraged to put ourselves down and pretend we are small and insecure. All because if we like ourselves that somehow really pisses others off.

As a...

Notice whatever thoughts, feelings or beliefs that question may have brought up for you.

Take a nice deep breath and let all of that gently release.

You can always recreate what you just let go of if you really want to. But for now, I’d like you to open up to look at the idea of worthiness from a different perspective.

Most of us have picked up this idea that we need to be worthy of good things, things we want or we can never actually have them.

One of the main beliefs connected to this is the idea that something is inherently wrong with us. We are somehow flawed, bad or not quite good enough in someone’s opinion.

Many are walking around programmed to think that they have to keep doing more and more to be worthy.

Or to stop doing this or that so that they fit in and are acceptable. That somehow we have to earn this elusive stamp of worth and value.

We aren’t quite sure how to achieve it but we will often...