Real love for ourselves, by definition includes every aspect of our lives – the good, the bad, the difficult, the challenging past. the uncertain future as well as all of the shameful, upsetting experiences and encounters that we’d just as soon as forget.
This doesn’t mean that we have to celebrate everything that’s happened to us or write thank you notes to people who have hurt us. But, like it or not, the emotional residue of our experiences is part of who we are.
If we resist any aspect of it, we feel like imposters, unreal and split off from ourselves.
If we neglect our authentic selves, we risk being dominated by others, instead of being in loving relationships with them.
This kind of integration arises from intimacy with our emotions and our bodies, as well as with our thoughts. It arises from holding all that we know and want and fear and feel in a space of awareness and self-compassion. If we reject or resent our feelings, we won’t have access to that kind of intimacy and integration.
Sharon Salzberg
Quote extracted from: Real Love – The Art of Mindful Connection by Sharon Salzberg
Written in short chapters that culminate in in-depth guided meditations, this is a book that spans vast tracts of interdisciplinary knowledge from the areas of Buddhism, Christianity, Psychology, Sociology and brings together these fields in a compelling, thought-provoking and deeply nourishing way. This is a book for the soul and spirit yes – but tempered with scientific knowledge and grounded practical advice for how to improve one’s ability to give and receive love in its variety of different forms.
Content Catnip 
That seems like a book I could do with reading, thank you for sharing it.
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Very welcome…I think you will really enjoy it too
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