Book Review: Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant

As I just finish reading this book for the second time, I am reminded of why it was so instrumental to me the first time I read it.

I sometimes call books my mentors. They are like my secret place where I can get advice without divulging into my challenges and making myself feel vulnerable to another person. Sometimes I cycle through my mentors until I get the message that hits me.

This is what happened when I picked up this book again. I first read it last year in a time where I was in a very dark place, my confidence was really down, I lost a good friend, my stability was being completely rocked and I did not feel like I had anyone to turn to.

Those that know me often view me as Mr Positive, Mr Motivated, Mr High Achiever etc. This is the view that I mostly have of myself. It is a good thing, but it can become dangerous when you feel that you are not living up to the expectations held of you and ultimately the expectation that you hold for yourself. The struggle can destroy you if you don’t use it to grow.

So this book came at the right time for me. It is a small book, it took me about half an hour or so to read it again, but the message is a simple yet powerful one. Love yourself like your life depends on it.

Sounds like common sense, but so often we fail to do it. Fail to love ourselves despite it all. Shining the light instead of roaming deeply into the darkness trying to find a way out.

It is not vanity. You can only give to others what you have and so I love myself. It is a practice that I forget when times are great, a simple reminder that I love myself despite it all. It is key to treat yourself with love rather than to despise yourself for shortcomings. Often we are our worst critics.

I would definitely recommend this book. It is a great pick me up in those tough moments.

Some of my favourite excerpts are:

“Here we are, thinking that one needs to be in love with another to shine, to feel free and shout from the rooftops, but the most important person, the most important relationship we’ll ever have is waiting, is craving to be loved truly and deeply”

“Real growth comes through intense, difficult, and challenging situations.”

You can buy the book on Amazon here