Before we can truly love others we first need to learn to love ourselves unconditionally, which for many people can be the most challenging part of their spiritual growth. We can be so busy "loving" others and "doing" for others that we neglect ourselves. How can we truly allow ourselves to be loved by another if we don’t even know how to love ourselves first?

If we don't factor in time in our lives on a daily basis for self-love and self-nurturing we are being hypocritical and not in our integrity. Any "love" we are giving out to others is likely to be tainted with resentment about meeting their needs and not ours or be conditional upon getting something back from that person. Beginning to sound familiar? Probably the vast majority of us can relate to the above. No wonder our hearts have been closing down vibrationally. Unconditional love requires nothing in return - it just is.

Unconditional love is what your dog gives you. Owning a pet gives people an opportunity to just naturally open their heart up to unconditional love as they feel the purity of their animal’s love and know it is not manipulative or calculating nor does it have a hidden agenda. An animal does not care how you look, what job you have, how much money you make, what car you drive or the house you live in. I feel animals are far closer spiritually to God than we are.

In our materialistic society the majority of people confuse self-love and self-nurturing with amassing physical possessions, such as fancy cars, big houses, lots of clothes, etc. How many people do we know who seem to have all the material things yet are depressed and empty inside. Hollywood is full of them. So-called self-nurturing may also be excessive consumption of alcohol, over-eating junk food, being a couch potato in front of the television, all of which are injurious to our health and do nothing to nourish us at a soul-level, where the real need for nurturing lies.

Let’s look at some positive soul-healing ways to nurture and love yourself:

*. Laugh a lot - 10 minutes of laughter in the morning boosts your immune system, increases productivity and gives you a good attitude. Try it in the shower, while exercising or just about any time. Laughter uses every muscle in the body and releases endorphins, the happy hormones.

• Enjoy guilt-free downtime - Be sure to build in regular reward breaks of 10-15 minutes after completing a task. That way you don’t need to feel guilty about stopping for a break. Walk outside, put your feet up, read, phone a friend or just do nothing.

• Have a warm aromatherapy bath with candles - Add beautiful music, take a good book to read, turn the answering machine on, meditate or whatever you are guided to. Enjoy!

*Take yourself to a beautiful place in nature - Walk, sit or just contemplate.

*Enjoy good conversations with friends

*Hug your pet or your child

Now over to YOU.

List 10 Ways You would Like to Show Yourself Love and Nurturing at a Soul-Level:

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Practise at least one soul-nurturing activity a day to start opening up to loving yourself.

Be creative and most of all ENJOY!