There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people. ~Vincent Van Gogh
*Dictionary.com: Love: (1) a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person (2) a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend (3) sexual passion or desire
Compliments: Caring, Forgiveness, Unity
Transcends: Fear
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What is Love?
Love is the essence of our being, the goodness in our hearts. It’s a constant in all that changes in life. We are united through its power, and its energy compels us to reach out to one another. When we practice love, we transcend hatred, fear and suffering and create peace, joy and harmony.
Here’s how to keep the practice of love at the heart of everyday life to achieve the extraordinary.
Ask Yourself:
Who was the last person to upset you? How did you feel? How did you react to the person? How did they react to you? Now, if you had responded to that person in a loving way, what would you have said or done differently?
Can you think of any blocks that might be preventing you from letting more love into your life? For example, perhaps a person hurt you badly in the past. Do you carry around this hurt and resentment? Is it affecting your current relationships or lack of? How so?
Practice Love!
- Look at things from a loving perspective.
Whenever you feel negative emotions regarding a person or a situation, step back for a moment and observe these feelings. Now make a choice to look at the person or situation in a loving way. You will be amazed at the difference this can make in your life. You will experience more peace and harmony and create the same for others. Although this may be a Pollyanna approach to life, and not always so easy, it’s a more enlightened and peaceful path to follow than the one of being angry and hurt. - Make love a priority.
Tell three people in your life that you love them as if you only had a month to live, especially those who you rarely say it to or not at all. Commit to telling them on a regular basis whether it’s in words or writing. In romantic love, what could be holding you back from opening your heart to someone? Undo the ties that bind you by discovering what they are and where they come from and then making a vow to conquer them. - Serve other people.
Volunteer, visit an elderly neighbor, call a friend, really listen to people, and be authentic in what you say, give sincere compliments, forgive, and be generous with your time and money. Reach out to those who need your strength and kindness without any expectation of something in return. The more and more you do this the less and less you will think of yourself, and your sense of service will become stronger, giving way to a richer and more fulfilling life. - Choose the loving way.
Take the high road in difficult and trying situations by reacting in a more loving manner. When you find that you are criticizing yourself, notice this and practice accepting yourself as you are. Also, accept people for who they are. Try not to judge people so quickly by taking into consideration their limitations and personal struggles. - Love yourself.
The first and most important love of all is the love of self because without it you cannot truly give of yourself. Practice loving yourself by taking care of your mind, body and spirit. Take care of your mind: take courses, read the newspaper, have thoughtful conversations and seek interests you find stimulating. Take care of your body: eat healthy, exercise regularly, take vitamins, and meditate. Take care of yourself spiritually: practice your religion, discover what brings you joy and pursue it, read books by spiritual leaders you find interesting, and enjoy nature more.
Download a notebook friendly PDF version of this practice here.
*Note: Dictionary.com is based on the Random House Dictionary © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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