“Love Your Fellow As Yourself.”

We are all aware of this cardinal rule “Love your fellow as yourself” (Leviticus 19;18), which is sometimes stated as “Love thy neighbor as thyself”.  It is a cardinal rule, because it is something to be constantly considered, to guide our actions or words, whether consciously or un.   It is another one of those cardinal rules that needs to be constantly considered, until it becomes second nature, or as Rabbi Jonathan Sacks says, “habits of action that become habits of the heart”.  

Most of the discussions about this cardinal rule centers around what it means to “love your fellow/neighbor”, no matter how difficult it may be.  We all tend to find things about our “fellow/neighbor” that we don’t like, or bugs us.  This teaching reminds us to look for the good in all.

For now, let’s focus on the “as yourself/thyself” part, which it really where it begins.  If you don’t love yourself first, then your “fellow” isn’t so thrilled with you loving them and your “neighbor” is probably thinking, “don’t come a knocking”!!

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me.  And if I am only for myself, of what good am I”. – Hillel      

If you don’t love yourself, then how can you love another?  If you can’t see your inner beauty/soul, the true you, how can you see that of another? Begin by recognizing and constantly remembering that you have value and you matter.  Never forget that.  You were created on purpose, for a specific purpose and mission, that only you can fulfill.  That you are still here, as in alive, is on purpose, for that specific purpose.  As younger people would say, “How cool is that”?  When you truly believe, internalize, and actualize that, you will love yourself and then you can start knocking on your neighbors doors.  They will be glad to see YOU!!

 “Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!” – Dr. Seuss

 “We must be our own before we can be another’s.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

 “If you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else.” – Marvin Gaye

Heart and Soul