The knowledge that love starts with me should take our focus off the things our parents right or wrong and the negative impressions we are getting from the boss, colleague, teachers, pastors or friends.

You need to ask question on how to develop your self worth, skills, lose some weight if medically necessary; become more valuable to your friends and the community. If you want love from others, make yourself lovable – love yourself, treat yourself well, value your body (this does not imply show off your body rather appreciate your uniqueness; understand what makes you tick, where and when you are your best. No factor is more decisive in people’s psychological development and motivation than their value judgments on themselves.

When you evaluate yourself, it affects your values, needs and goals. The impact of self confidence on academic achievement is greater than that of IQ. People with high self esteem get better paying jobs and are more successful in their careers.

Foundation of Self Worth
“What am I worth”? Your worth is not centered in what you do but in who you are. If you’re a Christian, your worth is formed in your destiny as a temple of the living God (think about this)! By the Holy Spirit, Christ the Lord lives in you.

Let’s consider the value of the White House in America as an illustration. The house is not the most magnificent or impressive edifice (home) in America but it’s by far the most valuable. Why? It is the house of the president of the United States of America. There is where its value laid “the House of the president”

Therefore who or what you carry (house) on the inside dictates the value you should place on yourself. Does Christ the Lord through the Holy Spirit find a house in you? He is the most eminent person around today and forever.

Fountain of Love
Knowing that love starts with you, should lead to self development which in turn increases your self-value. You should also know this: love is a virtue that flows outwards. Like a fountain its source is always inside not outside and when its working the spray of water goes up and out, but somehow the water still returns to the source. Love works in the same manner, you give to others and it still flows back to you so long as you keep giving love, you’ll never lack it. Our love should never seek to manipulate. In seeking the best for the other we must understand that she has a choice to accept your love or not, therefore you must acquire a waiting virtue called patience

One of the major hindrances to flowing love is the fact that not all the people to whom love flows are willing to either receive or reciprocate the flow. A lot of times this gives pain to the giver therefore love must be steady decision to care for another person, totally apart from any good quality, ability or desire to respond on the part of its object. The fact that your love had been rejected in times past should not affect your self esteem, or cause you to place a dam on the flow of your love towards others because the moment you stop loving you lose the flavor of life.

Love is an essential art of your nature that no one can give to you except God therefore you should not give anyone the permission to take it away from you. In the movie “FRANKINSTEIN” we see a scientist, Dr. frankinstein, give life to a monster he created, but there was one thing he couldn’t give – the ability to love. This inability made the monster a menace to people and its creator, the ability to love is what makes us humans

Unlike Frankinstein, God our creator has given us this great ability to love, to use it wisely you need to invite Jesus Christ into your life!

You can also read the Part 1 of this article here!

Imoh Uboh is a teacher of God's word with a passion for Christian discipleship. She currently worships with the HOUSE ON THE ROCK, Lagos, Nigeria; where she serves as a Home Cell Leader. Contact Imoh through: drichest@yahoo.com

Photograph from Image Bank