Self Love
I would first like to point out that the love I am talking about here is not narcissistic or egotistic. What I am referring to is an acceptance of who we are, our true nature, free from the ideas and perceptions of who we are or should be.
This is, of course, one of the hardest things in life, since there are so many influences – both externally and internally – that can stop us from even beginning this process, let alone achieving it.
An Important Story
This reminds me of something a friend once told me which relates to this perfectly. He had heard that it was impossible to dislike ourselves, as we don’t know ourselves; all we know about ourselves is made up of the images and perceptions we have gained from others. And upon this creation, we then begin to dislike the images we have formed, not our true self. However, very often we are unaware that these images are not who we are, and we see them as the truth. I thought this was not only profound but also very true.