The chances of successfully connecting with another human being in a romantic way, are quite slim. Each person has a set of deeply rooted defense mechanisms that have been fostered since childhood, in an attempt to protect themselves against criticism and vulnerability. We are so afraid of commitment, even though what we crave the most, is love and intimacy.

While most of us fear commitment, others dread the thought of being alone. Some people even condone being kept a secret in a relationship for this reason. They’ll put up with degrading circumstances just to feel sexually validated. It goes without saying that Lust rules the game. So many of us have our desserts first and wonder why we no longer have an appetite for the main course.

I don’t claim to have the answers, but it seems like cultivating self-love and self-awareness may be the starting point to turn our world around - the inner and the outer worlds. With self-love comes a host of other blessings which include, but not limited to: Self-respect, a sense of purpose for your own life, a deeper understanding of the golden rule, the courage to forgive yourself for whatever you’ve allowed to haunt you for so long, just to name a few.

Choosing yourself first over another may seem narcissistic, but it is fundamentally essential to your survival. I hope with each new day you're given, you make the decision to love yourself.

Ai-Creo.