Many people write about self-love. But this is an extremely vague concept. When people describe it, it is reminiscent of love for a baby, or even for a fetus in the womb. Such love can do little to motivate a person to action. Why? I have myself, I love myself and that’s enough. Self sufficient. In my opinion, it is much more productive to develop interest in oneself, observing, reflecting, searching, researching, developing, interest as self-realization. I am amazed by people who are able to not lose interest in themselves even in the most extreme cases. And moreover, they develop this interest and are able to realize it. For example, Nick Vujicic, who was born without limbs and did not lose interest in himself, but became a motivational speaker, or Kanya Sesser, who became a fashion model without legs. There are many examples in the Paralympic movement when a person, after serious injuries and illnesses, becoming disabled, a person with disabilities, continues to be interesting to himself and use and develop his remaining capabilities. No less impressive and delighted are people who are in difficult conditions during the war even if they end up in a concentration camp or blockade, they continue their research and development. For example, Viktor Frankl did not lose interest in life and in himself, and even on the basis of his experiences in a concentration camp and research he was able to open a new direction in psychotherapy. Yes, even Sigmund Freud was essentially a very sick person and even a drug addict, he had a tumor in his mouth and cancer of the skin of his face, but he continued to write and research. I remember I was impressed by Academician Pavlov, who, even when dying, continued his research and dictated his feelings while dying. Remaining interesting to yourself until the last second is very cool. It is also impressive how people remain interested in themselves while experiencing internal turmoil. Probably, every psychologist in this sense accomplished a unique feat, began to study his psychological problems, explore them, and entered into them with his own interest. In the early 80s, early 90s I was interested in classical philosophy, and was shocked when I discovered the philosophy of Kiekegaard and Camus. I was surprised by how boldly they go into anxiety, despair, meaninglessness, absurdity, horror, shame, disgust. I guess I then realized that any negative experience can be no less interesting than a positive one, probably even more so. This gives me strength even now. I guess I see my mission as a psychologist to help a person, a client, discover interest in himself. https://gestalt.ru/basic_course/teoriya-i-praktika-geshtalt-terapii-72/I invite you to the training program of the Moscow Gestalt Institute https://www.b17.ru/trainings/terapevticheskaja_obuchajutchaja_gruppa_1_stupeni_mgi_geshtalt-podhod/