Honoring Yourself Honors Everyone

Unique Perspectives: Honoring Yourself Honors Everyone

By Kim Stevens

If you were a small fly on the wall of the local coffee shop where my friends and I meet for lattes and good conversation, you’d probably hear us say: “When I honor myself, I honor everyone.”

It’s something we talk about a lot and it’s a great phrase to live by because it really speaks to the perfection of the universe. 

Have you ever been in a scenario where you thought: “Is this person going to like what I’m doing?” Or, “What if I disappoint them?”

I have. It wasn’t productive or fun. The questions came from a deep-rooted desire not to ruffle any feathers. I desperately wanted to never let them down. But in following that line of thought and using it to dictate my actions, I was committing hazardous dishonor to myself and to everyone around me. 

Then, I attended a fantastic personal growth seminar in Florida and it changed everything. I learned that when I really honor myself, when I stop looking outside and start looking inside to find the direction to go, the universe will always guide me there. Because the universe is perfect. So, when I honor myself, I’m honoring everyone. 

I like to use the example of bowing out of a proposed activity. In my line of work, I feel a heightened sense of obligation, but it’s juxtaposed by this ideology of honoring myself to honor others. When I say, “Hey, this thing I’m being asked to do isn’t right for me, so I’m not going to do it,” I’ve learned the action of bowing out is an action that’s best for those around me, too. I sometimes even get a knowing wink from the universe when the other party responds with: "Oh thank goodness. I really wanted to stay home and work on my painting then visit the park with my son!” 

Honoring myself is about following my intuition, my own path, my true nature, and it works like a beautiful two-way street. When someone else makes a decision that honors them, I’ve come to realize their decision will honor me as well. It’s how I once again find the universe working its perfection on you, on me and on the world.