Many will embark on the journey, some will never return, and a few will discover what our ancestors also sought: themselves. The personal relationship with oneself opens its door to the environment of isolation, where one is introduced to oneself.

The conflict that arises is between external friendship and internal (eternal) love. In isolation, an observation reveals that an outside relationship cannot last without the inside companionship. Keeping love in our hearts while moving through self-reliance is the ultimate prize, and something that can never be taken from each of us. When we are born, there is an intoxicating freedom within our spirit that embodies us, and shortly afterwards, we are convinced through societal norms and beliefs that our joy and happiness rely on validation from external sources. We spend most of our lives in denial that the answers we seek are outwardly.

“What progress have I made? I have begun to be a friend to myself.” — Seneca

The problem with much of our programming is that we have become consistent with putting others first, and by default, we become second-class to ourselves. The etymology of the word friend means lover, to love, and to be attached to another by feelings. When we put ourselves second, we abandon our lover within and tell every cell in our body to be less than. There is nothing in this world that can bring the joy and happiness to our lives we seek, other than our friend within.

Our days are consumed with the relationship with ourselves. The first friend in our lives is ourselves, and in death, our friend will be the last voice we speak to. Love is an inside job, and the imprint of what we are. To deny ourselves self-love is to deny our potential. Love yourself enough to choose yourself always first. The most value can be given if we give it to ourselves first. The voice that we become aware of within wants us to engage with it and to have a relationship. The conversation is the place where one lives and dwells and where our greatest friend resides. Choose yourself first so that you may free yourself and move into your power.

Letroy Woods can be reached at letroywoods@gmail.com.