Our society is often filled with chaos, uncertainty and decisions. Lives are busy with work, college and homelife.
The idea that love is a transformative gift has never been so important. What if we were to make love the centre of our lives? Bringing it into our daily lives and cultivating it internally. How would that manifest in our lives? and have we the courage to take the journey?
The first step is the willingness to be open to change our mindset. Love is not merely an emotion- its an energy that transcends all boundaries. It can be seen in the kindness of a smile, the comfort of a hug or a gentle word of encouragement. Yet the true power lies not in the connection we feel with others, but in how we have the ability to love ourselves. I have seen many people struggle with the concept of self-love- loving themselves, such a foreign concept. I say to my clients that kindness is the first cousin of self-love and perhaps kindness is a step that we can take. Some of the bush flower remedies are easy to recommend at this point.
Truly something alien for many, is this concept of self-love and to recognise the lack of it in oneself. It is the practise of valuing, caring for and accepting ourselves without judgement. It is putting ourselves first, knowing our values and boundaries, treating ourselves with respect. It is not about being perfect but being kind. Journalling is a great tool to support this venture. We must become aware of how we treat ourselves, noticing negative self-thought, feelings of unworthiness or old habits that hold us back.
Understanding where these feelings and behaviours come from is key. Often, we internalise harsh messages about ourselves from others or from society. Confronting limiting beliefs and replacing them with kinder more realistic ones is important. Self-love can require healing emotional scars, possibly from childhood, past relationships or life experiences. “Greatest love of all” by Whitney Housten is my self-love anthem!
Love can be a feeling of intense connection and affection towards someone or something. It can make us feel vulnerable and strong, it can bring joy and comfort, it is a force that motivates people to take action. Love for others is often seen as romantic love. The love can be experienced when dating and in a partnership or marriage but can also be seen in a friendship or companion even our pets. It is a deep selfless emotion that transcends personal desire. It leads to empathy, compassion, support and kindness- putting someone else’s feelings or care before ourselves. Small acts of kindness, kind deeds, sharing time and listening attentively are all expressions of love. True love is unconditional, not expecting anything in return. It fosters safety, trust and growth in a relationship- giving space to share joy and hardship together.
Research in neuroscience has found that love can activate certain areas of the brain and increase the production of hormones such as oxytocin and dopamine. These hormones are known as our “happy hormones”.
They release a surge of positive emotions which effects the mind, mood and body. Love is something that we cannot capture, quantify or measure as it varies from person to person and relationship to relationship. It ebbs and flows as we change and grow. It is the bond between this world and the next.
Love is our hope and love is our lives. Love does not come to an end.
