"Being my best friend" , by Erik Pevernagie, oil on canvas.  x

Many people cannot love themselves because they only love the illusions that they make of themselves. They merely like to wallow around in the narcissistic cocoon delusively constructed with the bits and pieces of their deceptions.

Let us not be our own worst enemy by permanently looking on the dark side of things.

Our best enemy is the one who challenges us and, so doing, teaches us to set out to discover our potential. At the same time, our worst friend is the one who is numbing us and lulling us into complacency, always being consenting or acquiescent.

Unfailing friends are essential when 'presence' and 'absence' are wrangling in our daily living, and our presence is rampaged by murk and woe while passion and lust for life are being trampled.

Reliable allies can shore us up, and since we are our best allies, we first must make sure we get along well with ourselves.

We do well to be our paramount 'significant one.' Being our best friend entails respecting ourselves, recognizing our way of living, and accepting what we are and how we are. It can give us the power to understand and appreciate others.

Without self-esteem, it is hard to be fond of others. Love for oneself is essential for the love of others and does not by itself stand for a free trip to narcissism or egocentrism.

"Love dares you to change our way of caring about ourselves" ("David Bowie" and "Annie Lennox," "Under Pressure").

Phenomenon: Love and self-esteem

Factual starting point: Person's legs