Alan reminds us that the practice of loving-kindness first begins with loving ourselves. As so often is the case in meditation practice, we often discover our own shortcomings rather than our assets. Being judgmental, feeling self-contempt and lack of worth leads us to further mental afflictions. He recommends that we attend to these faults (cravings, hatred, jealousy, pettiness, to name a few) and identify them as delusional obstructions to our own healing. The solution is to view these as mere appearances that are not parts of ourselves. Alan recommends that the anecdote to self-loathing and discontent is to observe and investigate, looking carefully for the lovable qualities in ourselves and in others.