20 Things I love about Myself

This practice is similar to our 21 Positive things I notice practice, yet with a more personal note. What you do is write down 20 things you love about yourself, things that you are just so happy about. These can be things you said, or did, or even thought about. It can be 20 things from this morning or in the last 20 years. No restrictions. Just write without stopping, without censoring what emerges. No judging, just writing. No evaluating, just writing.
Let me tell you why this is such an important practice:

We all have an ego-mind and for various reasons, it tends to be critical - sometimes extremely critical. When you hear a voice within you that says why you are not good enough or complains and nags you without pity, this is the voice of the ego. The ego mind is great friend once it is befriended. But like an unattended pet who is going crazy tearing up your living room, the ego mind manifests itself to get attention. It wants to be of service to us, yet we do not know how to use its help. Until the friendship and respect blossoms between us and our ego-mind, the relationship is build on weak legs.

There are ways to befriend the ego. And one way to do it is to start loving, appreciating, adoring and completely accepting ourselves. Yes, this is key! When you write down 20 things you love about yourself, the ego-mind is watching. Just like a pet who sees how you are making your home tear-proof. It is aware that things are changing.

It may come back to you stronger and more aggressive, in the initial days when you are beginning to take active steps, in the form of practices, to change certain things in the environment of your mind. And that's okay. This is the storm which eventually dies down. You might hear very critical voices and self-demeaning messages. Just become aware of it and come back to your practices. Your relationship with the ego is now in the process of transformation.

Once the process of transformation is complete, you will find an absolute great friend in the ego. Just like your loving dog who does tricks to amuse you, picks up the mail from the door or smells out danger for you when you are sleeping, and dives into the water if you are drowning. Afterall, our ego-mind served our ancestors well when we needed the fight/flight response to survive. Now, the ego-mind needs to transcend its role and help us transform and transition into our new consciousness.

So begin with a step. Small step. Build on it, step-by-step. Practice-by-practice. Begin now, write out 20 loving and appreciative things about you and if you dare, about your ego :-)

Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love. -Albert Einstein

What does it mean to fall in love? How have you experienced it?

Falling in love is an amazing sensation. Something that jars us from our "routine" way of being and feeling. It inspires you to break your patterns, and explore new, unfamiliar territory. For me, being in love has dramatically changed my life. And it is absolutely the best, most beautiful thing in my life. 

It seems not very long ago, when I fell in love and was driven by some unknown force to take bold actions, which included resigning from my wonderful job in New York City, saying goodbye to my beloved friends and family, taking an early release from my graduate studies at the university where I was studying, leaving the amazing city of New York and the familiarity of home AND then moving across the Atlantic to Germany. 

I moved to Germany in 2005, to be closer to my beloved! A language I did not speak, a culture I did not

know, a place that was new and unfamiliar, a university system that was so different from what I knew in New York, and a whole host of personal challenges is what awaited me in Germany. Yes, the five years in Deutschland were not the easiest, and yet, it was the best decision I made in my life. This was all as a result of me "falling in love".

Because I took what I call a "bold" step for me, I learnt a whole deal about who I am. I explored the beautiful forests throughout Germany, where I went on my first hiking trips. I made new friends who inspired and moved me. I have delighted in eating the most delicious and creative cakes and pastries one could ever find, especially ones made by mother-in-law, and not to mention, the insanely mouth-watering fresh breads! I have made strides in the German language and experienced the beauty and melody of the language. I went beyond my comfort-zone, over and over again, breaking new ground each time. In 2008, I decided to start my own company and take the path of an entrepreneur. And I have taken up writing and creating, a long lost passion rekindled.

So falling in love with someone special has indeed been special beyond words, uncovering so much beauty and treasures that lay within me and in my life. And each time we fall in love, we unearth something yet unknown, yet unfamiliar. And we do fall in love over and over again, all the time, don't we? Think about all the times you fell in love. 

Recently, I have fallen in love with the grand expanse of the sky I see every day.
I have fallen in love with the two beautiful cats in our neighborhood called Miami and Orlando! 
I have fallen in love with the chocolate cake that was made for my birthday by the one I love.
I have fallen in love with taking new avenues as there is so much adventure in paths not taken yet.

And most of all, in doing all of this, I have fallen in love with myself, again.

Sending you my love,

Sophia

Intention for Today: Love

Love is the intention for today.

May we express and experience love today. May we love ourself for all that we are. May we celebrate ourselves today in the full bloom of all our dimensions. May we let our love overflow from within us and onto our world. Let love flourish today. Let us love and be loved.

Thank you Love for loving us.