Dear Orchidia,

I think it’s extremely important to make self-care and self-appreciation your top priority. It’s difficult to give someone true love and affection when you have none for yourself, this often leads to jealousy and other insecurity-based pitfalls. However I think that loving yourself completely is an unrealistic goal, it is by no means something that you achieve and then you’re done with it. It’s an ongoing and fluid and fickle process that is not based on an outcome. The process itself is the outcome and it happens slowly and gradually. It’s also not a linear progression! Some days you’ll feel like you’ve got it down, and sometimes you’ll feel like you’ve made no advances at all. In my experience, finding someone who is also interested in their own self-care and who supported me in my self-work was a really rewarding part of your journey. Learning to love yourself and love another and be loved by yourself and be loved by another are all great things to have happen at the same time. Go forward with an open heart that’s willing to be vulnerable and willing to learn, even when it’s uncomfortable and painful.

Be brave!

Loving kindness,
Rose