The second part of the Great Commandment is not just "Love Others." It says, "You shall love your neighbour as yourself" (Mark 12:31). So the first step in learning to love others is learning to love yourself. That can be hard sometimes!

Scot McKnight reminds us of three ways we need to love ourselves. First, we need to love ourselves for who we are: eikons, or images, of God. We were created to be a reflection of God, which means we are special. Second, we need to love ourselves by forgiving ourselves. God extends us forgiveness when we ask for it, no matter what we may have done. We need to extend ourselves that same forgiveness once we have been forgiven by God. That isn't always easy, but we need to allow God to help us do that. Lastly, we need to love ourselves by doing. "This proper self-love both flows from God and flows back into God. True self-love, then, is to know ourselves as God knows us and to treat ourselves as God treats us. True self-love, as Jesus teaches us, leads to love of others" (pg. 57).

Take some time to read Psalm 139 as suggested by McKnight. What are some things in there that jump out at you about how much God loves you and how you should love yourself?