One of the most memorable stories in the book, More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, is called “The Bed by the Window.” A jealous man destroys another only to find he did it for nothing. Instant karma. In my experience, this story touches on what it’s like to be pedestalized as a Golden Child, which attracts intense jealousy. Jealousy is central to narcissistic family dynamics, and I have found that compliments from the self absorbed are often just an expression of jealousy. Jealousy is both a compliment and high praise from them, because they’d like to believe everyone is jealous of them, too. Surprisingly, the Golden Child, like the Scapegoat, is also actually unseen, unknown, and unloved for who they are. Self love doesn’t come from external approval and praise, it comes from within. It’s not earned, and it actually can’t be lost. Self love, while at times can feel elusive, is, even then, unconditional. I believe self love and the survival instinct are linked. Part of us never disconnects from love, no matter how self hating, worthless, and suicidal we might feel. Every person is a mosaic, and I do believe everyone contributes something from this part of their highest self, their soul, or their light. My younger self from 2019 was so destroyed by low self worth that she would be astonished to hear that I now believe that self love, while at times can feel elusive, is unconditional. I also believe self love and the survival instinct are linked. Part of us never disconnects from love, no matter how self hating, worthless, and suicidal we might feel. We might feel disconnected from it, but I believe there’s a connection between love and our highest self.