(SeLoFest17 Post: Day 14, click here for all prompts so far)
Back when I was studying Spiritual Psychology at the Santa Monica University in 2013, we were assigned reading that truly helped me in finding books that were meaningful and life changing. Among one of them, was the book Loveability by Robert Holden. It was an amazing book, which I read it twice, the second time around taking notes and writing down pages where Mr. Holden had discussed points about self love that I felt essential to my own well being, but also others. The last time I read it again, I was struggling with Self Love, and it was near Valentine’s Day. So I decided to start SeLoFest, a self love festival on Facebook, as a way to do the Beta and Free version of the Self Love Fest Workshop I’ve been designing with the aim to not let Valentine’s Day remind you of the separation we have been sold, and instead, as a day to celebrate what we are made out of.
One of the first points that Holden made in his book, was pretty much the thesis for the rest of the book. It changed how I understood Love, and it was starting from that point on that I first decided I would not define myself by a partner, but learned to be fulfilled on my own. It wasn’t some magic switch, I have still let myself be defined by men since because the mix of Latino culture in my household and American culture outside of it saturated my subconscious with thoughts of being good enough for a man as my prime objective in life. Success was having a man. It’s taken years to undo the damage, especially because the damage keeps being done, and unlearning things is hard when you’re continuously being taught them at a subconscious level. However accepting and knowing that I am Love, Unconditional Love, has been the best gift I have been given by the Universe.
Today, I would like to share eight things Robert Holden has written, that really resonate with how I live Love.
“I ask you to consider that the goal of your life is not just to find love; it is to be love. Love is the real work of your life.”
“All the happiness, health, and abundance you experience in life comes directly from your ability to love and be loved. This ability is innate, not acquired.”
“Biologists will teach us that the survival of the species depends on cooperation, not competition.”
“If you think something is missing in your life, it is probably YOU…”
“Sometimes in order to be happy in the present moment you have to be willing to give up all hope for a better past.”
“No amount of self-improvement can make up for any lack of self-acceptance.”
“Some people CHASE happiness. And some people CHOOSE happiness”
“Happiness does not have to be deserved, earned, worked for or paid for; it simply has to be accepted.”
SeLoFest17 Challenge
The Prompt: Bask in the 8 affirmations above. Really meditate them, breathe them in, think about them, see how they feel inside. What do they say to you? How do you feel about these statements?
The Activity: Today, you are your creative expression. Dress up, do your make up, take time to look cute, buy yourself a present, make yourself something, do your hair, feel cute and pretty and desirable FOR YOU. Do whatever you need to do physically to look your best according to you. Take a selfie.
In your journal: Free Flow, do whatever comes forth for you in this day. Make it about you, about love, have fun.
Consider getting Loveability!