Lighter

Chapter 1

Self-­Love

When I ask myself what I was addicted to, no particular drug or craving stands out as the one source that led me into darkness. After I stopped the serious drug abuse, I realized that I had been using a mixture of whatever could bring me temporary pleasure to cover up a void in myself that I did not have the courage to face. The void was never satiated or content. Any enjoyment I could experience or attention that people gave me was never enough. It felt like an endless vacuum that could take in the world, spit it out, and still have room to ask for more.

The shift finally came when I stopped throwing pleasure at the problem and started nourishing myself with nonjudgmental and honest attention. The refocusing of my energy into paying attention to all my changing emotions had an immediate effect. Paying attention eased my incessant craving for more pleasure and I stopped feeling so ragged and run-­down.

I was not aware of the term self-­love when my personal journey started, but I certainly used the practice as a critical stepping-­stone. I would not have been able to move forward into a better life without this gentle and accepting attention that I started giving myself. Self-­love was the missing link. It was the key to wholeness that I was unconsciously searching for. I discovered that the appreciation you seek from others will not hold the same rejuvenating power as the appreciation, attention, and kindness you can give yourself.

What Does Self-­Love Mean?

Anything powerful and long-­lasting requires a sturdy foundation. When a home is being constructed, all attention first goes to the foundation that will stabilize the structure. Once that foundation is firmly in place, you can go on to build, expand, and create something magnificent. The evolution of the individual works in a similar manner. Self-­love is the first step that all inner and outer success is based on. Self-­love gives your journey the energy and

yung pueblo is the pen name of the writer Diego Perez and means “young people.” The name is meant to convey that humanity is entering an era of remarkable growth and healing, when many will expand their self-awareness and release old burdens. He lives in western Massachusetts.

yung pueblo is the real deal a modern sage and guiding light. In his new book, he beautifully illustrates how finding harmony within is the key to creating a progressive society built on com­passion, clarity, and understanding. This is a book everyone must read, many times over. Vex King, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Healing Is the New High

yung pueblo teaches how to heal with compassion as the driving force. Lighter is an empathetic and wise book that will guide you on a journey toward a deeper understanding of self and help you make impactful changes within and in the world. yung pueblo created a core curriculum on how to heal despite your experi­ences with suffering. Nedra Glover Tawwab, LCSW, New York Times bestselling author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace

A beautiful encouragement for tending your own heart: for learning and healing, for finding well-being, and being part of the solution for all you care about. Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart

To learn of yung pueblo s beginnings in this intimate book is a gift. Lighter helps us understand the daily ways in which his deep­ening practice has impacted an entire generation of seekers. His words leave an indelible mark his struggle with self-abandon­ment and his personal process of compassionate self-connection have quietly inspired millions of us. yung pueblo s humble, po­tent teachings help us prioritize our emotional maturity in the face of constant change, a vital understanding in these turbulent times. Elena Brower, bestselling author of Practice You, Being You, and Art of Attention

yung pueblo offers insight into daily practices and choices that can remove the burdens of habitual reaction to reveal the free­dom of wise reflection. In Lighter, we see that knowing the mind can transform a person, and also transform society. David Simas, CEO of the Obama Foundation

Lighter is the story of one man and of all of us as we seek to