So … I hear you asking … what does love have to do with my legacy, brand and reputation? Everything.
Love – the emotion, connection and delight in oneself and others - drives one’s passion and therefore energises your brand and creates the excitement needed for maintaining a business or career that is uniquely your own.
But isn’t the fact that people love themselves too much and not love others enough the problem with our world today?
Isn’t self-love the root of greed and abuse, and doesn’t loving oneself mean complacency and an end of the desire to change and improve?
Yes. To some extent, excessive navel gazing and a preoccupation with self is a valid concern especially in our Instagram driven society.
The truth, however, is that most of us do not love ourselves nearly well enough, and this is the cause of so much of the pain that is inflicted on others.
When seen clearly, “Do I love myself?” is an essential and illuminating question.
In order to understand this we must first understand what true love is.
We usually think that love is simply a feeling that arises from desire that can change or disappear over time. “This sense of what love means, though, comes from our basic survival impulse that drives us to look for acceptance through the positive attention of another, out of the fear of rejection and abandonment.”
This is false love tells us we need to be seen as special in order to feel safe. True love, though, is not a feeling or a desire.
It’s not about with security and approval; these are its side effects.
While false love arises from the fear of lack and the need to receive, true love always arises from gratitude and the determination to give.
True love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
True love helps us face our fears and yet surrender to faith; an unshakeable belief in better things to come.
That is the kind of love that is needed to power a great brand.
The question is – do you live it?
Insight Inspiration:
True love can be defined as: The commitment to know, experience and contribute as deeply as possible to the growth of someone or something. In this case yourself, as you grow your brand and reputation. '
If you’re not investing in yourself, loving and respecting yourself, and are instead disparaging your talents, gifts, skills and life journey, you’re fighting a battle against a mindset that will crush you.
It will make sure your true light is never seen until you become a husk of the person you were created to be.
So please, love yourself.
You, your career, your brand and the world will be so much better for it.
