Benjamin Franklin said: “A true friend is the best possession.” You can have a bank account full of money, live in the biggest house in the neighborhood, drive the newest, fanciest and coolest car, dress in the finest styles and still be lonely, miserable and frustrated with life. On the other hand, you can live in a one room shack, with little to no money, walk everywhere you go, wear the same clothes every day and be connected, happy and fulfilled in life if you have just one good friend.

Someone said: “To have a friend, you have to be a friend!” And that is some excellent and very true advice. I want to take it a step further today and say: “To be a friend to others, you first have to be a friend to yourself.” If you want others to love you, accept you and walk with you, then you have got to love yourself, accept yourself and be willing to walk with yourself wherever “yourself” may be taking you.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” -John 15:12-13

Live life long enough and we will face rejection. Rejection hurts and is not fun at all, but if we pay close attention when rejection comes our way, we will realize that it often starts with us. So many times, we waste away our lives and living waiting on someone, anyone to accept us, love us and be a friend with us, when we don’t even accept ourselves, love ourselves or be a friend with ourselves.

We need to acknowledge our weaknesses and learn from them, but we don’t need to allow them to keep us from being our very own best friend. After all, what is a good friend? A good friend is one, who accepts us, not matter how screwed up we may be. We cannot expect others to love and accept us, if we do not love and accept ourselves. So start a new friendship today with yourself. Love yourself like you have never been loved. Accept yourself by learning and growing from your mistakes and by appreciating and amplifying your successes.

When we begin to see the good in ourselves, then others will see it too. What we focus on gets the attention, so focus on what makes you a good friend by being a good friend to yourself …