Remember to love!
What does that mean? What is love? What does it mean to love?
Great thinkers throughout history have contemplated this question, offering diverse perspectives on the nature of love. Here are some thoughts from a few beautiful teachers:
“If I love myself, I love you and if I love you, I love myself… Laugh as much as you breathe, and love as long as you live!” – Rumi
“Love, it surrounds every being and extends slowly to embrace all that shall be… Beauty is not in the face, beauty is a light in the heart.” – Khalil Gibran
“To love is to recognize yourself in another… Love is the recognition of oneness in a world of duality.” – Eckhart Tolle
Why is self-love the cornerstone of this journey as Rumi suggests?
Because if I have learned to really accept myself, if I have learned to really love every part of me, then I don’t need anyone else to do that for me. Then I don’t need you to make me feel worthy. I’ve got that! I’m already whole.
And here’s the real beauty of it, if I don’t need you to make me feel a certain way then who are you allowed to be…? Just be yourself…
But if I’m not whole, if my tank is not full because I’m still pushing away parts of me I wish didn’t exist then I’m going to expect you to help fill my tank, so the things you do and the words you say better be confirming my worthiness or else my world falls apart.
But when I’ve been doing my “work” to integrate all of the “darker” parts of me into a wholeness, when I need nothing of you and I’m allowing you to be just who you are then I also see you a bit more clearly. I see that just like me, you’re doing your best. You’re having your own struggle with your own shadow and none of it was ever really aimed at me. I see me in you, and I see you in me.
As you embark on your own journey of self-love, let these guiding mantras illuminate your path:
- I am worthy of love, just as I am.
- I accept all parts of myself, light and shadow.
- My love for myself radiates outward, fostering genuine connections with others.
- I see the light of love within myself and within everyone I meet.
Remember to love! This interconnectedness, born from self-love, fosters genuine compassion and understanding. It allows us to build meaningful relationships based on mutual respect and acceptance.
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Sharing love.