“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.” – Buddha

The title of this post alone gives me chills. What would I do or most importantly not do if I really loved myself? Would I allow myself to drag unpleasant situations? Would I still keep people in my life that has no business being there? Would I make more time for myself and for the people I love and who love me back? Would I pamper myself more? Would I remind myself to be healthier, happier, more joyful every day?

I’m not saying in any way that I don’t love myself, but sometimes I wonder if I love myself enough in certain situations. Sometimes I wonder why I let other people or situation take my happiness, would I let anyone hurt me, or would I just remind myself that I am loved, that I’m happy, joyful, and full of life. Would I remind myself to be outside more instead of driving from one underground parking garage to another in a city that has an average temperature of 65-70F and 350 days of sun a year? Would I make sure I’m grateful and aware of every good thing and good person in my life instead of taking certain things for granted or not even noticing others?

Whenever I’m faced with a question of whether I should or should not do something, whether I should make a decision about people, situations, things, I look inside and I ask myself: If I really loved myself, what would I do? I’ve noticed that at times a lot of people including me, make choices based more on the perception that other people have rather than the perception we have. Remember! Just because you’ve done something in a certain way for the past however many years, it doesn’t mean it’s the right way or that you can’t change it now. If one day you feel like going to the beach and meditating by yourself instead of going out with your friends, choose yourself over everyone else.

Just asking the question puts you in a completely different mood. Instead of focusing on everyone else except you, all of the sudden you bring the focus back in. It forces you to look inside your heart instead of deciding just with your mind or just saying something completely impulsive that might not be in your best interest. Sometimes the best way to solve things in life is to just change your perspective.

Next time you have the tendency to tell someone: If you really loved me you would or wouldn’t do this, turn it towards you and say: If I really loved myself, what would I do…then let the universe unfold its magic of love.