I Love Me

My mother always told me that I would never be able to truly love someone else until I first learned to love myself. Wow, no small order there. Thanks, Mom.

But, I really do understand what she was saying. In our society, we are all tested and judged incessantly. We are led to believe that we are never quite right, that we always need work. If only we wear this jean or these shoes or any of a hundred other things we are told to wear, say, or do, we will be rewarded with love and acceptance. This is especially true for women. If we listen to the media, we will never measure up.

There is a simple meditation advocated by the marvelous Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron. In it, you begin by sitting comfortably with your eyes closed. With each exhalation, think and feel "I love you" and direct that out into the world. With each inhalation, imagine the world responding to you and saying "I love you" back. Repeat this exchange for as long as you have time or until you feel your heart chakra open, as it invariable will. This simple exercise will attune you to love, especially love for yourself in the world.

This necklace will help you attune yourself to love. The Rose Quartz and Lapis Nevada work together to help the wearer understand with clarity her own self-worth and to experience the non-judgment and abundance of true self-love.