I know there are different definitions of love for everybody, and everybody has a different way of showing love. But for now, I’m going to stick with the definition that was written in stone thousands of years ago:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 reads, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

You can’t love someone without loving yourself first; it’s like wanting to run without knowing how to walk, you will just end up on the ground over and over again.

I’ve gone my entire life with the desire to be loved, wanting someone else to need me and cherish me. I saw the way married couples would treat each other, and I would always say, “I want that.” I wanted so badly to have a significant other that would accept me and love me for who I was, I grew impatient and childish. I realized a little over a year ago that the entire time that I’ve been looking for that special someone who will love and cherish me, I’ve forgotten to love myself and accept myself first.

You can’t jump into a relationship without already knowing how to be happy on your own because that would ruin the great experience of being single.

You can’t jump into a relationship without already loving yourself. You would unknowingly be seeking self-assurance through someone else, and that’s toxic.

You can’t love someone without knowing how to love yourself first. That would be unfair to your significant other since he or she would constantly be having to build you up, and you’re supposed to do that on your own.

It took me about six months to learn this, and I cannot tell you how self-rewarding it is to be completely happy on your own without needing or even wanting the ego-boosting words from someone else because you already had that assurance from yourself and from the Love of God. The right person will come when you least expect or want it, and that's exactly what happened to me.

A good friend of mine recently told me that we were born to doubt ourselves, that the saying “nobody is perfect” is an insult to God because to his eyes, everyone is perfect. She asked me, “Why are you seeking love elsewhere? Is God’s love not big enough? He loves you more than you could ever imagine.” I felt my heart skip a beat after she said this, and this is when I realized that I’ve been truly loved my entire life. I realized that God’s love was already enough, and therefore I was enough and I didn’t have to doubt myself anymore.

Love yourself, learn patience, be kind to yourself and respect yourself, and never doubt yourself. But above all else, seek God first, and He will pour Grace into your life.