Loving Yourself: Four Steps to a Happier You

This was an excellent book. Beautifully written. The only passage that bothered me was when she mentioned a Korean practice called Dahn Hak. If you do a search for it, you'll find that it's manipulative, money-based, cult-ish, etc. It's too bad because the majority of the teachings are beautiful, like honoring your body "I love you, my beautiful face." etc. I do highly recommend this book. It'll teach you how to love yourself.

It's a good book, well worth reading. I also highly recommend her book Finding True Love!

Of the many Daphne Kingma books I have read over the years, this is my favorite. Why? Because in this little volume readers get a real, "up close and personal" look at a much admired author who candidly shares just how much she has struggled with loving herself too. Daphne scores big with this one, reminding us that if we really do want "big love" in our lives, we absolutely have to love ourselves first. Then she expertly sets out to show us how. The path she lays out for us is tried and true. Her advice works--if we are willing to do the work of self--not always easy, but ultimately rewarding. I especially enjoyed the last chapter in the book, "Living with Self-Compassion," and reading about the author's remarkable journey hiking through Bhutan in the Himalayas. It is an amazing quest, one, which Daphne reminds us is symbolic of the inner journey we must all take if we are to arrive at a place of compassion for ourselves and, ultimately, others.

Speak Out, Act Out, Clear Out and Set Out are four directives that we can use to respect ourselves and present ourselves to others. Kingma gives helpful, specific examples of how each of these are paths to self love. The book also provides vignettes illustrating ways in which people do not express self love, and asks readers to examine their own feelings of self worth and behaviors. She describes "life themes" which shape our values and our actions. The message is positive and affirming. Readers may choose how deeply they want to delve into their emotions and history. I will re-read this book more than once!

Daphne Rose Kingma has written a beautiful book on being the love of your own life and to stop seeking it outside. The hardest path to love is that when it is yourself. Ironic when most people seek to be loved by another without ever trying to love themselves. Many relationships are about feeling valuable because someone else, also imperfect, loves you but without them you are nothing. Consider investing all your energy in an act of power and love ... and loving yourself like nothing else.