Self Love
​Self-love means having a deep appreciation for oneself involves valuing own well-being and happiness, treating oneself with kindness and respect
The Gift
This story is taken from the Bhagavad Gita.
Arjuna once asked Krishna, "Lord, why do people consider Karna more generous than Yudhishthir? “My elder brother has never ever refused whatever he has been asked for.”
So, why is Karna considered greater than Yudhishtira?"
Krishna said with a smile, "Come, I'll show you why."
Disguised as Brahmins, they first went to Yudhishtir's court and asked for sandalwood sticks to conduct a 'Yagna'.
The king immediately sent his soldiers to all parts of his kingdom in search of sandalwood sticks. It was monsoon, the trees were all drenched, and the soldiers returned with wet sandalwood pieces. The Brahmins accepted the offerings and left in silence.
The Yagna was not possible with the wet sticks.
Krishna and Arjuna then proceeded to Karna's court next day and asked for the same sticks.
Karna thought for a while and said, "As it's raining for several days now, it will be impossible to collect dry sandalwood sticks. But there is a way. Please wait for a while."
Saying this, Karna himsef proceeded to chop and cut down the doors and windows of his court which were made of sandalwood. And, after making them into pieces, gifted the dry sandalwood sticks to the Brahmins to conduct the Yagna.
They accepted the offerings and went back.
On their way back, Krishna asked Arjuna, "Do you realise the difference between the two, Arjuna?
Had we asked Yudhishtir to give his doors and windows for us to conduct the Yagna, he would have given us without a second thought. But he did not think of it himself."
We did not ask Karna either.
Yudhishtir gave because that was his Dharma. Karna gave because he Loves to Give.
This is the difference between the two, and that is why Karna is considered greater.
" Whatever work you do, it becomes nobler when you do it with love."
We can work with different attitudes, because:
1. someone asked you to;
2. or as a duty;
3. or as your dharma;
4. or as Karna did, out of love for doing the job.
The last is always the best
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MORAL OF THE STORY
Whatever work you do, Love it, Enjoy it. That is what brings fulfillment to you as well as the task you undertake.
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The Rose and the Gardener
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful rose growing in a garden. It was admired by everyone who passed by. People would stop to smell its fragrance and praise its vibrant color. However, the rose noticed its own thorns and began to feel insecure. It thought, “How can I be beautiful when I have these ugly, sharp thorns?”
The rose became sad and began comparing itself to the other flowers in the garden, like the delicate lilies and cheerful daisies. “They don’t have thorns like I do,” it thought. “They must be better than me.”
One day, the gardener came to the rose and said, “Oh, beautiful rose, why do you look so downcast?”
The rose replied, “I am not truly beautiful because of my thorns.”
The gardener smiled and said, “Your thorns are a part of who you are. They protect you and allow your beauty to bloom without harm. Without them, you would not be the same. Embrace your thorns—they make you unique and strong.”
Hearing this, the rose began to appreciate its thorns, understanding that they were as important as its petals. From that day on, it stood tall and proud, embracing itself fully.
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MORAL OF THE STORY
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Self-love means embracing all parts of yourself, even those you perceive as flaws.
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Your unique qualities make you who you are, and they deserve to be cherished.
The Broken Pot
A water bearer had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole that he carried across his shoulders. One of the pots was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. The other pot had a crack in it and arrived at the master's house only half full.
For two years, this went on daily, with the bearer delivering one and a half pots of water to his master’s house. The cracked pot felt ashamed of its imperfection and one day spoke to the water bearer. “I am sorry that I am not perfect and can only deliver half my load of water. I feel like a failure.”
The water bearer smiled kindly and said, “Look at the path we travel every day. Have you noticed the beautiful flowers growing on your side of the path but not on the other side?”
The pot looked and saw vibrant flowers lining its side of the road.
The water bearer continued, “I planted seeds on your side of the path because I knew about your crack. Every day as we walked, you watered those seeds. Thanks to you, these beautiful flowers bloom, and I can bring them to my master’s table. You see, your imperfection has brought beauty and joy to others.”
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MORAL OF THE STORY
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Your flaws are not weaknesses but unique traits that can bring beauty and purpose to the world.
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Self-love begins with appreciating your imperfections and recognizing the value they add to your life and others.
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The Golden Mirror
There was a wise old woman who lived in a mountain village. She was known for her wisdom and kindness, and people often visited her seeking advice. One day, a young woman came to her, looking dejected. She said, “I feel like I’m not good enough. I compare myself to others, and I always fall short. How can I learn to love myself?”
The wise woman handed her a small golden mirror and said, “Take this mirror and look into it. What do you see?”
The young woman looked and replied, “I see myself, but I don’t like what I see. I see flaws.”
The old woman took the mirror, turned it around, and showed the young woman the back. On it, there was an inscription: “What you see depends on how you look.”
The wise woman said, “The mirror reflects not only your face but also your thoughts. If you focus on your flaws, that is all you will see. But if you focus on your kindness, strength, and beauty, you will see the wonderful person you truly are. Change how you look at yourself, and you will begin to love yourself.”
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MORAL OF THE STORY
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Self-love is about shifting your perspective—focusing on your strengths rather than your perceived flaws.
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You are worthy of love and appreciation, just as you are.
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