19 Sep The most important friendship for your happiness
There's no doubt friends are important for happiness.
Having a best friend can also be an important contributor to our happiness.
But the most important friendship, when it comes to happiness, health and wellbeing, is almost certainly the one you have with yourself!
Read this article from The Pacific Institute…
Your own best friend
Let's talk about the most important relationship in your life – the one you have with yourself.
Think of someone you regard as a dear friend. If no such person exists in your life, dream one up.
The time you spend with this person brings you a special pleasure, doesn't it? You tend to be loving, protective, and solicitous toward him or her, and you really have their best interests at heart, don't you? You really care.
Now, ask yourself, "Do I give myself the same kind of care and consideration?"
On the basis of your self-treatment, many of us would truthfully need to answer, "Certainly not!" If this is your answer, ask yourself why. Maybe you will see some negative programming from the past that taught you to suppress or deny your own needs. Maybe you were taught that caring for yourself was selfish and wrong.
As a result, you engineer defeats and deprivations, either automatically or unconsciously, that leave you feeling victimized.
You can't really treat others any better than you treat yourself without hurting your own self-esteem. Your self-esteem is of vital importance, for without it you will have less to give, be able to receive less, and in general live a less-than-satisfying and fulfilling life.
So, if you want to be a good friend to others, take this piece of advice and learn to be your own best friend – first. If you haven't done this before, that's OK. There is no time like the present to begin this new friendship.
Here at The Happiness Institute we frequently enjoy the work of The Pacific Institue so we very much encourage you to head over HERE and check out the original version of this story and all their other great work.