What does it mean to love? - Mindful Moment Monday
Good day to all of you and welcome to a few mindful moments together. Today we will meditate on Love and the ability to put it into action.
What does it mean to love?
A few ideas from the dictionary…. love is an intense feeling of deep affection. A great interest and pleasure in something. A deep romantic or sexual attachment. Something we find pleasure in…
We put a lot of emphasis on loving other people and receiving their love. Often we focus on how someone isn’t showing love to us in the way we want or desire. We may not feel loved or think that it’s being given the “right” way or in a way that we understand or can relate to.
We’ve all felt heartache or loss of love, and the suffering, pain and tears that come with it. We may feel like we are in a love shortage, drought, a general ‘lack of love’ from the external world.
But what about pausing and looking to see how we can apply the idea and act of love, to ourselves. Our inner world.
'Your ability to love another person, depends on your ability to love yourself.'
Thich Nhat Hanh
Do you love yourself?
Do you feel appreciation for your body, for your mind, for your heart, for all that is YOU?
If we struggle or cannot love ourselves, how is it that we could fully love another?
This seems like an odd subject for some or even very challenging for those who struggle to find love for themselves. But if we cannot love ourselves, how might that limit our ability to fully love another?
Let’s sit with ourselves for a moment.
Breathing in curiosity…
Exhaling with openness.
In this moment, may I be with these ideas and let them softly land on my heart for observation.
Ask and listen….
Do I love myself?
Do I want to love myself?
How can I show love to myself?
Let’s take in these thoughts with gentle awareness….
Feeling with an open heart as you notice any answers that softly whispered in response.
Breathing in with curiosity
Exhale with reflection and openness.
Is there a part of us that we struggle to love?
Is there a desire to begin the process of learning how to love that part?
Continue to sit with dignity,
Breathing in respect, honor and appreciation
Exhale with ease, willingness and calm.
You are worthy of love.
We are worthy of love.
When we can love ourselves we can expand our love to others.
Love is in us.
Love is all around us.
We are love.
Breathing in with compassion.
Exhale with acceptance.
As you go about your day, remember; “Your ability to love another person, depends on your ability to love yourself.”
Imagine how much more we can love the beings in our lives, if we can love ourselves even more.
Love breeds love.
May you continue to listen from deep within.
May you begin to love those parts that you may find perceivably harder to show affection for.
May you begin to see that all of you is lovable and worthy.
May you love from the inside out.
From my heart to yours with deep and profound appreciation.
You are loved Precious One…
You are loved.