Welcome Home summary

Picture someone you love. It can be a friend, a partner, a family member – anyone you care for deeply. Now imagine them coming to you with a problem. Maybe they have a bad headache, or they’re stressed out at work. Or maybe they’re going through a tough breakup and need someone to talk to. What would you say to them?

Chances are, you’d do whatever you could to make them feel better. You’d sit them down and find a painkiller for their headache. You’d ask them about their day at work. You’d tell them that it’s going to be alright. You’d do these things because you love them.

Now imagine that it’s you who’s going through that suffering. Would you be as kind and patient with yourself as with your friend? If your answer is no, then you need to work on the first room in the house: self-love.

Self-love means being empathetic toward yourself. It's a skill that involves treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding you show others rather than defining yourself by the external love you receive or want. Remember, you're here to build a home within yourself.

Love is a power that's inside of you. When you give your love to someone else, you shouldn't feel empty. The key is to first use it to strengthen yourself; then you’ll have more, even infinite, love to direct outward.

Self-love means embracing yourself for who you are, but it also exists in your ability to recognize and receive the love around you. Sometimes, like when we’re in chronic pain or caught up in the emotions of others, we forget that there’s love out there for us – and that it’s not selfish to let it in.

So here’s a simple activity you can practice to help develop your self-love. Every morning, tell yourself, “Today I am going to see proof that I am worthy of love.” Keep this in mind throughout the day, and collect all the affirmations of your worth: a smile, a friendly conversation, a nice text message.

When you look back on these small acts of love at the end of the day, remember that you’re not trying to define your worth through some external source. Rather, your ability to recognize love in the world around you is already the proof you need. In short, let yourself see love, and you’ll realize you’re worthy of it.

Once you’ve spent some time meditating on these thoughts in the Self-love room, you can move on to the room of Forgiveness.