Marilyn Monroe’s greatest need was for love.
Sitting in the theatre watching the new movie, “My Week With Marilyn,” we were touched by the performance of Michelle Williams as Marilyn. She WAS Marilyn. And she was captivating!
What was especially gripping to us was the reminder of Marilyn’s life quest to be loved for who she was. She suffered from extreme low self-esteem as a result of not feeling loved. Her pain filled the screen.
Sadly, she compensated for her lack of love by accepting the role of being the sexiest woman on earth. At least she had people’s attention, but it still wasn’t the love she longed for to fill her. Marilyn needed a soulmate.
“What if,” we wondered, “Marilyn had come out and announced to the world that she was really a normal person who needed love?” And what if she made her need to be loved – for who she is – a life goal? Then, we believe, she could have found her soulmate.
There is an unspoken secret in most people’s hearts.
It’s the secret we bury and guard with our lives. It’s why we are terrified of intimacy where you expose who you are and risk everything if they don’t like or love you for it. Our secret? It’s fear. It’s the “What if I’m not really loveable? Or deserving to be loved?” And “What if they find out who I really am and tell everyone else, confirming my worst fear of being totally unloveable?”
This is a secret held by many – even celebrities. When the secret gets exposed, we understand. We ache for them. We know ourselves what it means to face the dreadful fear of “What if I’m not who they think I am? What if they see into me, who I really am, and walk away?” And, “Is there anyone out there who can give me the love I long for and validate that I am loveable?”
The greatest emotional asset we have is our courage to be ourselves – from our hearts and our guts. Marilyn had the burning desire. But she didn’t have the courage to stand up for what she most wanted and needed and to take a stand without backing down. We’re talking about raw emotion, our need for love.
Imagine if Marilyn’s soul search had caused her to stand up and say to herself, “I’m good enough! I’m worthy of being loved! I’m going to be exactly who I am and see who shows up!”
If only she had stood her ground. But her fear caused her to cave. Marilyn is us. How can we pick up where she left off and make good on our promise to show up for our authentic selves and expect to be loved?
Here’s one powerful way to start. Learn who your authentic self is. Most of us don’t know. Unless we know what our value is we won’t be convinced that we are loveable. All you have to do is look into your heart. What’s there? Are you someone who cares, has desires, holds values high, and tries to make a better world? Then you are loveable!
Our hearts are vastly unexplored areas. Fear holds us back.
But if you dare to be bold and courageous, then take a look at what’s inside. We believe you will come to see many things about yourself that are admirable and that you can appreciate and even love. As you do, others will notice something special about you and come nearer. They will come closer because you will stand out as someone who is grounded boldly in your exploration and discovery of your personal lovability. And they will want to know your secret. They will find you worth knowing – and loving.
Because you are loveable!
P.S. Here’s the link to the movie trailer:
