Let me ask you a question:

If your friend was exhausted, overwhelmed, and on the verge of breaking… what would you say?

“Take care of yourself. You need rest. You’re doing so much. Be kind to yourself.”

But when it’s you feeling that way?

You push harder. You criticize yourself.

You say, “I can’t stop now. Everyone needs me. I’ll be fine.”

---

Parshat Kedoshim tells us:

“וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ – Love your fellow as yourself.”

We focus so much on the “love your fellow” part…

but we forget the critical foundation: as yourself.

That means loving yourself isn’t just okay — it’s a requirement.

You can’t love others fully if you’re constantly running on empty.

---

💡 

Chesed starts closer than you think.

People say “Charity begins at home.”

We assume that means giving to our spouse, our kids, our family.

But the Chovot HaLevavot says something deeper.

In Shaar HaBitachon, he teaches that it’s a mitzvah to care for yourself — because your body, your emotions, your well-being are all gifts from Hashem.

Taking care of yourself is not a luxury.

It’s part of Avodat Hashem.

---

✨ What does that look like?

• It means giving yourself the same compassion you’d give a friend.
  
• It means making time for your mental, physical, and spiritual health.
  
• It means knowing that when you are whole, you can give from a place of abundance — not exhaustion.
  

---

🧠 Imagine this:

You can’t fulfill “Love your fellow as yourself” if deep down…

you don’t love yourself.

That mitzvah starts with believing you are worthy.

Worthy of rest.

Worthy of care.

Worthy of love — from others, and from yourself.

---

You are not being selfish by taking care of yourself.

You are being holy.

Because when you love yourself the way Hashem wants you to…

you unlock the ability to love the world.