Your Loved Ones Deserve to Thrive, Why Don’t You?

From yesterday:

Most people are uncomfortable saying that they “deserve” something, even if that thing is thriving. Yet, at the same time, we tend to think our loved ones deserve to thrive.

So why is it that I don’t deserve something that someone else does?

It feels a bit selfish to say you deserve something. It feels a bit entitled perhaps. So I think we tend to default to the polite answer which we hope communicates something like, “I don’t see myself as being special or more important than someone else?”

But that’s not really what I’m asking. I’m not asking if you’re special or important. I’m asking if you see yourself as a person who deserves the same things that you think your loved ones deserve. In other words, are you as important as those you love? Are you as worthy of love, kindness, grace, and mercy as those you love?

If not, why not?