■"Love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 22). No one would deny that this teaching is one of the most important moral codes out there.

■And the premise of this teaching is the fact that "everyone loves themselves." But do we really love ourselves? I think there are many social prejudices that make loving ourselves secondary.

■I think the first moral code for modern people is "Love yourself first" and "Take care of yourself". So, what does it mean to take care of yourself?

(1) First of all, valuing yourself means “accepting yourself as you are”. People have different personalities and circumstances. But they are worth it because they are different. You should just accept yourself as you are and enjoy the moment. (self-acceptance)

(2) Taking care of yourself means not using yourself as a “means” for something. You don't have to do anything "for anyone", "for the company", or "for your country". We are the purpose. (Self-purposefulness)

(3) We are not tiny beings in this world. We are the “subjects” who create this world. (independence)

(4) Taking care of yourself means doing what you want to do. It's about being honest with your feelings. For example, let's say you are asked to do a job by someone. Working reluctantly has no value in your life. It is meaningful only when you feel a sense of purpose in your work. (spontaneity)

(5) Taking care of yourself means doing what you feel good from the bottom of your heart, in other words, following the voice of your conscience. Freedom means "free development of one's personality", which originally means doing what one thinks one should do. (autonomy)

(6) Taking care of yourself means not comparing yourself to others. We compare our circumstances and abilities with the circumstances and abilities of others, and we are filled with joy and sorrow. However, the value of human beings is that they are intelligent "subjects" who can recognize and compare "objects." Comparing yourself is treating yourself as an object. (do not compare)

(7) To value oneself means to act with the feeling that "other people are also important." The voice of our conscience undoubtedly includes the phrase, "Take care of others." (golden rule)

TOP