The least you can do for yourself is everything.

If one is cruel to himself, how can we expect him to be compassionate with others? — Hasdai Ibn Shaprut, 10th C. Jewish Scholar

Did you know newborn monkeys crawled to a mother who touched and cradled them instead of running to enticing milk?

The well-known psychologist, Harry Harlow, studied the behavior of newborn monkeys in the 1950s. These newborn monkeys were separated from their mothers and reared alone in a cage.

The question was whether the baby monkeys would spend more time with a pretend mother who gave them warmth and comfort or a stark, mesh figure that held a milk-dispensing bottle but provided little comfort.

The result of his study?

The little monkeys barely glanced at the milk. They preferred cuddling, touching, and contact with another who looked like them. They only left the warmth of love for a minute to take a quick drink from the milk.

I shed a tear when I read this research.

Here are questions worth asking ourselves:

What do we do to give ourselves love? Do we even give ourselves love?

Unless you’re someone who has learned the value of self-compassion, this is what most people do.

Read the full article…

To your inspiration,

Banchi