Finding Our Way To Philautia

Learn why empathic self-love is radical

By Chardonnay Beaver

The ancient Greek language is one of the most influential languages ever. The Greek language produced some of the first philosophers, renowned scientists, mathematicians, and historians documentations and theories.

Quick history lesson…

The Roman Empire conquered the world’s greatest societies. Their two dominant languages were Latin and Greek. This is how Latin and Greek words are the fundamental building blocks for the English language.

With that, the ancient Greeks understood the complexities of emotions. Emotions like “love” and “anger” had multiple words to describe their distinct expressions.

However, in English, “love” is one word that occasionally loses it sacracy. We literally use the same word to describe our admiration of bacon and our parents. Quite strange, right?

Recently, I discovered the ancient Greeks even discussed self-love. Philautia is a love for self that is distinctive, intrinsic, and infinitely rewarding once mastered.

Loving yourself is the bedrock for loving others.

Words of Wisdom by Char of the Week: Finding your way to self-love is an act of radicalism. Oftentimes, our inability to love ourselves is because of our identity crisis. The world and mainstream culture are constantly feeding us ‘who’ and ‘what’ to be, contrary to our purpose. S