I like your take on the Narcissus story as not so much of a cautionary tale, but as a metaphor for how we can learn about ourselves by really immersing ourselves in nature and in life generally.

I think all these messages not only “shame” us into NOT loving ourselves, but they also degrade, humiliate, control, repress, and hence actually stop us from REALLY learning how to to love OTHERS.

I have found that once I learned to love Robin, loving others was just an automatic off shoot that happened from a GENUINE place of deep love, connectedness and understanding. In fact, I could love others so much more deeply, compassionately. To forgive, love and be compassionate with myself immediately invoked those same feelings toward others….toward ALL life.

I think this is just a VERY powerful post and I am really glad you wrote it. I have found that it’s almost an illness in American society, which teaches that we have NO RIGHT to love ourselves. We are being selfish. So this article is like fresh clean air, it’s soothing, soul healing, written with compassion.

Sorry this long, but I just had one last thought; reading the story of Narcissus, I felt it was beuatiful that he fell in love with his reflection and “fell” into the lake. My expreince in the wild was a bit like that. I “fell” into myself and it was like falling into a deep clear lake, which was very much like my soul. The lake and reflection to me could represent the soul. A reclaiming of our purest soul. I find that singularly beautiful.

Thank you so much dear Chris – I am moved by this whole post, by your open heart and the resulting wisdom from it. I applaud you. Hugs, Robin

I loved how you put this, “In fact, I think personal growth, in its highest form, is about moving away from narcissism — away from loving the image we present to the world — and toward loving who we actually are. What’s more, once we fully love ourselves, real compassion for others becomes possible.”

Brilliant!
Thanks for sharing this with all of us; what a great way to start the week.

In the past, I had been accused of being “selfish”. And what I’ve come to realize after years of personal development and study is, that selfishness (for me) was a matter of two things: 1) protecting myself and 2) a cry for help because inside I was hurting.

Until you can heal yourself and feel good on the inside, you cannot help and care for others the way you need or want to. And you must care for yourself mentally, physically and spiritually in order to experience true integration.