Robin Sharma is a world-renowned leadership guru, motivational speaker, and bestselling author who has inspired millions of people to improve their lives. Sharma has always stressed the need for self-leadership and personal development through his books, seminars, and teachings on personal mastery. His most successful book, exposed readers to the fact that success is not only about achieving material success but also about developing inner peace, purpose, and clarity in life.
Over the years, the philosophy of Sharma has revolved around the fact that excellence always starts from within. He holds that before becoming the leaders of teams, organisations, or families, one has to become the leader of oneself. His philosophy is a blend of effective ways of living life and spiritual knowledge, advising people to develop confidence, discipline, and emotional intelligence in themselves. The above-mentioned quote aptly reveals his belief that change is the key to healthy relationships and effective living.
This quote, is attributed to Robin Sharma and reflects themes explored in his book
What this quote conveys
At the core of this quote is a profound truth: the love of others begins with the love of oneself. To love oneself is not to be arrogant or selfish. Rather, it is to learn to accept oneself, to respect one’s own needs, to forgive one’s own mistakes, and to appreciate one’s own value. Without self-love, one tends to look for self-validation, self-acceptance, or self-security in other people. This may lead to dependency or insecurity in one’s relationships. But when one has learned the art of self-acceptance, one tends to approach relationships with a sense of fullness rather than a sense of emptiness. One loves freely because one is already whole.
The second part of the quote is about emotional openness. To open your heart means to be vulnerable and take risks. Many people close their hearts to their emotions because of some experience in the past that left them disappointed or hurt. However, Sharma argues that to connect with others, we must be open and centered. To feel “centered and alive” means to be emotionally balanced, mentally alert, and spiritually grounded. When you are in this condition, you think before you act, and you act out of kindness, not out of impulse. In this state, to become a better person is not an effort; it happens naturally because your inside world is in sync with your outside actions.
As Robin Sharma so aptly puts it, personal development is not selfish; it is a generous act. Through self-love, self-expression, and self-balancing, we can enhance our ability to serve others. As we are balanced and alive, we can bring light, calm, and love to all that we do. In a world that tends to focus on external success, this quote encourages us to look within. It is only through loving our own hearts that we can develop the strength to touch the hearts of others and become the best that we can be.
