Just by being here, you bring something new to the world that wasn’t here before. You're a unique expression of the universe, and you’re worthy of being here. If you need help believing that, read this. One of the benefits of loving yourself is the connection you'll feel... to everything. Because you are, essentially, everything.

“Many people feel small because they’re small and the universe is big, but I feel big, because my atoms came from those stars. There’s a level of connectivity. That’s really what you want in life: You want to feel connected; you want to feel relevant; you want to feel like you’re a participant in the goings on of activities and events around you. That’s precisely what we are, just by being alive.” –  Neil deGrasse Tyson

Your worth can't be measured in numbers, mistakes, or experiences. You're worthy because you are here. You're human, and you're stardust. You're the earth and an essential piece of the universe, a masterpiece and a work in progress.

You can't measure or deny something like that.

The benefits of loving yourself are immeasurable, like you, to be sure, but here are five for today.

5 Benefits of Loving Yourself for Who You Are, Where You Came from, and Where You Can Go

1. Courage to continue.

Being yourself as completely as you can, moment after moment, builds the strength to keep going when it's hard. Nobody has all the answers, after all, and what self-love does is fill you up with enough courage to be who you are, to admit what you don’t know, and to let that inspire you instead of weigh you down.

"Living in approval of yourself is the antidote to worry." – Nancy Levin

2. Compassion, expanded.

When you soften the way you see yourself, you can contribute in a greater way. You become passionate about being a compassionate individual. And the world needs more of that.

It's easier to be easy on yourself, to give yourself a break where it's due.

You’re an intricate piece of the whole, but you’re also an expression of the whole, meaning you’re not just in the universe but that the universe is also in you. Loving yourself is seeing that you’re alive on purpose, and that encourages you to live with greater purpose.

3. Comfort in your own skin.

You can be okay with not having all the answers, with not knowing how to make it through. You can learn to be okay with your imperfections because nobody really knows what perfect is, anyway.

Your marriage to the mysteries of life undoubtedly makes it easier to live.

You can find comfort in this moment, wherever you happen to be, whatever happened yesterday. Because this moment holds the space for everything, even all your unknowns. There's room for everything here, including you.

"For me, the holy moment is when I enjoy my own company." – Kris Carr

4. A hopefulness that opens doors.

Practice trusting your own inner guidance system, and you’ll notice a shift in all your relationships. Where there's more love, there's more honesty, more ease, and more hope in what can happen.

5. Fulfillment of your core needs and desires.

When you learn to love yourself for who you are, what’s really happening is that you're allowing love to flow through you, unrestricted. As it happens, self-love helps you focus on what else you love: hobbies, people, dreams. You're on the same wavelength as those things you want more of.

So, they're easier to find, easier to follow, easier to bring into your life.

When you feel like you're worthy of being here (which you are), you're more connected to your truth and your mystery and your potential. That opens up new doors, uplifts, makes friends out of strangers, comforts, strengthens, enriches your whole life.

I think sincere self-love and self-acceptance can take us all the way home.

. . .

Tell me:

Which of these thoughts did you need to read today?

Tell me in the comments. I read every single one, and I’d love to know!

With love,

Jen

P.S. Never forget how valuable you are. Click here to get this favorite poem as a handwritten print. The one that reminds you: you’re enough as you are, nothing more and nothing less.