What does it feel like to love? What does it feel like to be loved? Have you experienced love?
The key to love is within you
The first place to practice experiencing love is to love yourself. That means accepting everything about you and working with what you have been given. If you can’t love yourself, you can’t love anyone else.
Learn to accept love
Years ago in an Est seminar, we did a communication exercise. Sitting opposite each other, we took turns giving compliments. The huge lesson most of us got was that we stopped the compliments from coming! We could not accept the compliments as being true or even possible. We put up a huge barrier that kept us from receiving the nice things that were said about us. No wonder we don’t feel appreciated. We don’t allow ourselves to accept what comes our way. The next time someone gives you a compliment, notice where you try to stop it, take a deep breath and bring those positive words clear into your awareness so that it can nourish you
Love is not always warm and cuddly
Who doesn’t feel a warm fuzzy feeling around a baby or even a small animal. It’s the misbehaving child, or the irritated partner that test our ability to love.
What does love look like?
On the simplest of levels, love is patience – giving the other person space to travel his or her own journey. Love is an exchange of acknowledgement and support. You give love when you encourage someone. When you take good care of yourself, you are giving yourself love. When you follow your passion, that is love.
Why you yearn for love
There are two reasons you yearn for love. You yearn for love because you don’t love yourself. And you yearn for love because you reject the love that comes your way. It’s a double-edged sword – not believing you deserve love and not accepting that someone loves you. Learning to love others and accepting the love that is returned is totally up to you.
How do you practice love?
To begin to love yourself, look in the mirror, deep into your eyes and say “I love you.” See if you can even do this. Practice until you can both give love to yourself and accept it from yourself
How do you express your love of others?
Listen. Listen to what is not said. Listen for the need that is being expressed. Listen for the confusion, pain or distress you can identify with. We are all basically alike. If you think about it, whatever someone else is going through is something that on some level, you can understand.
Love is found in little things
Notice the loving and considerate things your partner or friend does for you. Is it difficult for you to notice it? Do you say “thank you” for the small everyday things that are done for you? Does the person you do things for acknowledge and appreciate what you do? Learn to acknowledge even the expected things, like fixing dinner or helping with a small chore. Share your gratitude in words. Share your gratitude by your actions.
Speak love thorough gratitude
Beginning today, with every encounter, look for something for which you are grateful. If it is appropriate, acknowledge the other person for what you notice. This will raise your own awareness of the generosity of spirit that surrounds you
Speak love through service
Look for and offer small services. Don’t wait to be asked. Anticipate. When you look for ways in which you can help others, it raises your awareness of how you can be of service.
If you keep the idea of looking for love and giving love in our consciousness, you will see it everywhere. Start spreading the love. Love yourself. Love others.
To Sing a Deeper Song Consider:
Where Do You Get Your Feelings of Self-Worth?
How To Set Values Boundaries That Express Your Self Lov
