ThePeopleAlchemist Edit:  Be your best self – #SmashYourCeiling, change starts from within -Business & Lifestyle Experimentation for #TheWomanAlchemist

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways” is a poem by Elizabeth Barret Browning from the collection “Sonnets from the Portuguese”, first published in 1850. Browning dedicated the poem, her most famous and reproduced in endless anthologies of love poetry, to her husband, the poet Robert Browning.  

Besides being an exquisite sonnet, most importantly here, it is a great example of the countless ways we can show and feel love for someone.

Likewise, wouldn’t it be great if we did the same for ourselves?

HOW DO I LOVE ME? LET ME COUNT THE WAYS

We have been talking so far about Self-acceptance and embracing imperfections, and being authentic. We then moved to Self-appreciation and seeing yourself, not for what you want to become, but for who you are. Valuing yourself irrespectively of flaws and imperfections (perceived or real). With compassion and gratitude.

Because Self-appreciation brings true transformation and can change your life. And by this, I mean looking inside yourself and consciously stopping your bitchy alter ego, your critical inner self. 

In addition, we talked about building Self-appreciation into morning and evening routines until it becomes an ingrained habit that is part of you. In other words, continuously choosing to think, say and do what is in your best interest. Self-acceptance is a habit. Self-appreciation is a habit. And Self-love is a habit.

In short, everything we talked about are ways to help to build Self-appreciation. But today, we are talking about unconditional, emotional, deep love and passion.

The-I-love-you-no-matter-what. Which we do naturally for partners and children. It’s not that we don’t see their faults (common, we do). However, they are irrelevant and don’t affect our love.

In conclusion, Isn’t it about time we did the same for ourselves? Let’s count all the ways we can love “me” …

HOW DO I LOVE THEE

Here is the full Sonnet – simple, poignant, beautiful.

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
And I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.”

See you tomorrow x

FURTHER READING

“Sonnets from the Portuguese” by Elizabeth Browning Bennet.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning married Robert Browning against her father wishes, and this collection of sonnets is a beautiful and memorable testament of their love.

The sonnets are both intimate and introspective whilst never lose sight of the bigger things in life – devotion, fidelity and the inevitability of being finally parted by death.

Available on Amazon.

Change starts from within; that’s why training your consciousness should be your Priority Numero 1 – a daily practice to silence your inner critic.