A Romance That Lasts All Life Long
You may wonder which romance could possibly last all life long?
Whether you are on a monogamous, polyamorous or celibate path at this moment in time, there is one relationship you are engaged in that lasts a life-time. This is the relationship you have with yourself.
“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance”
(Oscar Wilde)
The relationship that we have with ourselves is the most important one.
All other relationships in our life are really mirrors reflecting our relationship with ourself.
So how do we go about creating and maintaining a love affair with ourselves?
In Taoist practice we use the meditation of the Inner Smile as a way to connect with ourself and send smiling loving energy to all parts of our body and being, and particular to those which we are not in good relationship at the moment.
So many of us do not have a good relationship with our body. We need to befriend our body. Our body is our home for the rest of this life in this incarnation, so we better make friends with it! And I do understand that many of us have reasons to feel betrayed by our body. It is then even more important to create a loving relationship with our body.
Most times we are our own worst critics. Often, we would not dream of criticising another as harshly as we criticise ourselves. So why do we find it so hard to love ourselves, as we are, right now, in this moment?
And more importantly, what can we do to accept and love ourselves in our totality?
In Taoist practice the first step towards embarking on this life-long love relationship with ourselves is through the Inner Smile. The Inner Smile is a meditation, and it is also an attitude towards life and ourselves. We can cultivate the Inner Smile throughout the day at any time to fill our hearts with love and acceptance.
An Inner Smile to ourselves confirms that we love and accept us for who we are right now. It is a genuine Inner Smile that tells us:
“I love and accept you as you are right now - unconditionally.”
And so we become our own beloveds. It is a smile of love. It is a smile of acceptance. And that smiling loving energy may then radiate throughout our whole being. Our cells respond to it. They are drinking in the Inner Smile. Practice the Inner Smile now and feel your body responding to the love you give yourself.
A great book to read on the subject is Michael Winn's e-book
"Way of the Inner Smile. Tao Path to Inner Peace & Self-Acceptance"
Sign up for his newsletter to receive a free copy of the e-book.
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