How does one learn to LOVE themselves?

For me it has been looking at the illusions I learned to believe about myself as a child and challenging them. The illusions were the false messages I picked up from my unempathic mother's behaviours and my life circumstances - the message was 'I am not important, I do not matter'. Reality - my mother was selfish and narcissistic, i had some misfortune in losing my father young but I DO MATTER just as much as any decent human being does, I deserve happiness and a place in this world as much as anybody else. I have also found mindfulness meditation and the practice of present moment awareness really helpful in grounding myself in the here and now, before I used to dissociate so much. I talk to myself more and more in a strong positive way instead of repeating the old records so much, also facing the pain I was holding on to and finally grieving for the significant losses in my life and a sad childhood. As I take these steps I get lighter and I suffer fools less gladly too. Some days I fall into the pit of 'persecuted child' but now I have a faith that I will come out of it soon enough and I always do, quicker each time now. I wish you well in your own steps in self belief Rache. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The deeper that sadness carves into your being, the more joy you can contain." ~ Kahlil Gibran http://www.storyofmylife.com/KLARITY4