Love the one you’re with, even if it’s just you

During my early years of recovery, I was told by many a mentor to “love yourself first”. Take care of yourself, have compassion for yourself. H.A.L.T., don’t let yourself get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired. I was also told to pay attention to my self talk. In a sense, I was learning how to have a relationship with myself again.

Relating to oneself is something that we’re born with. We know who we are. We know what we want. But years of cultural conditioning taught the taboo of knowing who we are. The skills that I learned to cope with the…