I have to love myself before I can love anyone else! BUT, how do I love myself?

This episode is part of our JOYFUL ART OF BUSINESS™ series wherein we explore how to combine the positive benefits of our professional endeavors (“business”) with the overall positive emotional return on our efforts (“joy”). The act of engaging in professional endeavors, in any capacity (i.e., as an employee, employer, entrepreneur, contractor, volunteer, paid, full time, part time, intermittently, etc.) is an expression of our ideas and creative talents (“art”). In this episode we are exploring the specific topic of “I have to love myself before I can love anyone else! (BUT, how do I love myself if no one else does or ever has?)”

It is a cliche that we have to love ourselves before we can love other people. Yet, are people loved at work? Yes. Look how people mourned with Steve Jobs died or President Kennedy. Those were business people (in technology and in politics), yet they had people who felt affection and even love for them (through their work). 

How does a person who has never been loved (or who currently has no one who loves them) even know what “love” is? How can a person give something to themselves that they do not have any examples of or experiences with in their personal lives? A business leader who has no patience is not able to give any to their team members. It is the same with love. 

A person is not able to give away what they do not possess themselves. How can a person who has not known love learn a working concept for it (unconditional, kindness, approval, etc.) and begin to give it to themselves? This is what we explore in this episode. Join in!