Jonathan Kis-Lev - How to Love Yourself - The Art of Loving Myself

Praise for How to Love Yourself: The Art of Loving Myself

For those who generally loathe the self-help genre, Kis-Levs book is a breath of fresh air. Kis-Lev takes an orderly, methodical approach to finding affection for himself. And you cant help but fall in love with him on the way.

Laila Hoja, the Book Reviewer

Practical and never preachy Gave me many practical ideas, some of which I use ever since. The analysis of our brain-chatter patterns was absolutely brilliant.

Daily Preacher

Packed with fascinating insights about the reasons why we tend to put ourselves last on our list, this book will show you how to do otherwise. I only wish I had read it earlier.

Alison Kahn, Peace For The Future

Wonderful.... Kis-Lev shows how you can be happier with who you are, starting right now, with small, actionable steps accessible to everyone.

Dr. John Vitals

Kis-Lev exudes warmth from every page. As you read it youll be inspired by his emotional confessions and liberating wisdom.

Aven K. Lint, author and speaker

Enjoyable and witty The book is filled with the best quotes youll ever find about the subject of loving yourself.

Daniel J. Okla, The Jewish Daily

Kis-Lev (How to Love Yourself) brings a fun, sensitive verve to now well-tread self-help tropes The tone is far more feisty than academic, and there's humor on every page, all of which is exactly what his intended audience most needs"

The Monthly YOU Reader

If touchy-feely self-help tomes make you feel less than inspired, this no-nonsense manifesto to self-love might be just what you're looking for. Jonathan has a gift for writing in a very digestible way that will appeal to everyone.

Dan Klein, The Last Opinion

The Art of Loving Myself will silence your inner critic and help you build a life worth living. You will find practical and easy ways to connect with your inner self and improve your life dramatically.

Joan Kelvin, author The Secret Inside

Author and artist Jonathan Kis-Lev takes the self-help book to another level with his cutthroat humor and in-your-face honesty. The short, well-written chapters fly away quickly. Too quickly!

Janice Kline, speaker and author

Kis-Lev has probably written the most moving self-help book many readers will ever get their hands on Now you have permission to upsize your serving of love to yourself. Enough with the crumbs!

Bill T. Harry, Harry Books

Moving and riveting Reading this book was like talking to a best friend the one that will tell you like it is no matter the circumstances and that forces you to think outside the box.

Maria Velzquez, coach and trainer

I cried and laughed This guide will make you feel like it actually is okay to put yourself first inspiring!

Jo Levi, The Reviewer

Kis-Lev has turned his own pain and traumas into a source of wisdom and comfort for the rest of us. Brilliant.

Mira Hudson, The Life of Mira

Empowering If you need to see an example of vulnerability done well, just read the work of Jonathan Kis-Lev.

Nadia Joels, The Bookreview Club

An enlightening, laugh-aloud read.... Filled with open, honest glimpses into Jonathans real life, woven together with constant doses of humor and wisdom.

Jane Silva, author and columnist

How to Love Yourself: The Art of Loving Myself

Self Love as the Basis of High Self Esteem, Self Worth and Self Respect. Be Yourself and Love Yourself Right NOW.

JONATHAN KISLEV

Text copyright 2016 Jonathan Kis-Lev

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever without express written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Please refer all pertinent questions to the publisher.

Published in the United States by Goldsmith Press LLC.

Editor: Tania von-Ljeshk
Cover photograph: Scott Durham
Profile photograph: Doug Ellis Photography
Cover design: Slava Inkjet Noh

To all of my friends around the world. This book is for you. Thank you for encouraging me to be myself. This book is my tribute to all of you.

- J. K.

introduction

This book you are holding is a book full of love. It was written with love, with the hope that it will reach you wherever you are, touch you and inspire you.

In many ways Ive been writing this book for years. Ive been on the journey of choosing to love myself for many years now. The past five years Ive dedicated myself wholly to the subject. Ive read books, Ive gone to seminars, and I practiced various exercises regularly.

You may ask why this obsession with this subject of loving yourself?

Quite frankly, I dont know. All I know is that I have felt a hunger to fill a gap in my soul. Ive tried to fill it with work and accomplishments. And it didnt work. I tried to fill it with love, romance and sex, and became even more depressed. I tried creation doing art and writing and it got me closer, but didnt fill the gap wholly.

I am a pleaser. I always liked to please others. I also liked to be well regarded. Early on I learnt that when I brought good grades home, I received positive attention and love. I therefore tried to bring the best grades I could. After school I did it with my work as an artist: bigger paintings, better paintings, more extravagant exhibitions all to get positive attention. I did all this to make me feel that Im alright.

But soon enough this way of life took its toll. I was living for other people. I was trying to make my parents proud, my girlfriend proud, my siblings, friends, even distant acquaintances. And it was tiring, exhausting, and unhealthy.

I began having severe back pains, often paralyzing me for days. I did physiotherapy, acupuncture, whatever it didnt help. And things were getting worse.

In my love life, I found myself in the second, if not third, unhealthy relationship. I was trying to be the good guy all the time, while not really knowing who I was and what I wanted. Even asking this question seemed to me like an odd, if not a rude, question to ask.

This book details my journey. It is a journey towards loving myself.

Have I arrived? Well, I think Im still working on it. Each month, each year, I feel that I do love myself more. I feel that I respect myself more. Each year Im becoming kinder to myself.

This journey has not been easy. To an extent, it still continues. I still have lots of work to do.

But the benefits Im already reaping are amazing. So amazing, in fact, that I decided to sit down and write this book, to tell you all thats possible if you dedicate yourself to this journey.

I found that loving yourself is a form of art. And while I do not strive for perfection, I do appreciate those artists and artisans that have made their art a sublime one.

In this book I share the processes, the exercises, the mental highs and lows, and through personal example, I hope to inspire you to practice the art of loving yourself.

I am an artist at living - my work of art is my life.

Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki

Japanese Zen master and author

If a man writes a book, let him set down only what he knows. I have guesses enough of my own.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

th century German writer and statesman

experience, nothing but experience

All I am about to share with you is my knowledge the way I experienced it, the way I came to understand it through being involved.