What is the real thing that keeps us from following our heart’s desires?  What holds us back from following a spiritual path, questioning our beliefs or telling someone that we love them?

It is all about guarantees.  We want to have a guarantee that if we follow our heart‘s desire we have certainty of its positive outcome.  We want a guarantee if we make ourselves vulnerable by saying ‘I love you”, in return we will hear the same.  We want a guarantee if we get married we will be secure, happy and independent.  We want a guarantee if we sacrifice for our family or our jobs in return we are appreciated and rewarded.

There are not many guarantees in life.  There is no guarantee that our children appreciate our sacrifices for them.  There is no guarantee if you work hard at your workplace you will be recognized.   There is no guarantee that your business will thrive the way you planned.  There is no guarantee if you love someone they acknowledge and love you in return.

What is the only thing that is certain?  It is all about our attitude, and how we love without being attached to outcomes.  If we treat ourselves with love and compassion all the time, we will be ok no matter what we experience (good or bad) in life.  How do we treat ourselves when we are not loved back?  How do we treat ourselves when our service to others is not acknowledged?  How do we treat ourselves when we have followed a great eating habit and still have health challenges?  How do we treat ourselves when an unexpected tragedy happens to us?   Do we still treat ourselves lovingly? 

It is important to love and care for ourselves no matter what we are experiencing in life.  Loving yourself is the only guarantee in life you can rely on.  We need to love ourselves (words, actions, and emotions) without regard to the outcome.  

Copyright . 2011 by Shervin Hojat