Hello there!
[Today is day 9 of our 21 Days of Love in Action event – a free Facebook event…feel free to join in as it is never too late for love! :-)]
We celebrate love and those we love on Valentine’s Day with great enthusiasm. I mean it is about love after all! But since it is about love, that “thing” no one can do without out and no one would willingly and reasonably plan to do without, I say we ought to “celebrate” it every day.
Seriously, wouldn’t it be grand if we lived a life of love each day? Expressing love in words and action is in fact what life is all about. But it does not come as naturally to some as to others. The reasons for this vary no doubt but I would guess they fall into a few categories; Things like a lack of self-love, unhealed pains and hurts from the past, stress, a lack of spiritual development and general personal stagnation are possible causes at the root of a love-less life.
Here are 7 steps to get on the path to a life of love:
- Be still – breathe, pray, cease your mind, just be still
- Reflect on where you are with love in your life –satisfied, room for improvement (always), tired trying, no desire to change, excited and optimistic, etc. Be totally honest with yourself!
- Decide what you would like to see happen {for instance, “I will heal my personal pain, learn to love myself so I can spend more real quality time with my children”} – visualize it, write it and commit to this decision. Refine your statement until it is clear, crisp and powerful.
- Tell at least one other person – get accountability in the picture. The more accountable you are the more committed and the higher the likelihood of success. This is true of any undertaking and especially with one as challenging as’ living a life of love.’ Your inclination may be to avoid this step as it may feel like such a personal goal with vulnerabilities too near the surface that sharing it may be uncomfortable; but trust me, the more challenging the goal the higher the need for personal accountability.
- Know your “why bother” – to be successful with any behavior and mindset change you must be excited about the benefits to be gained. The motivation behind the decision in the first place, is directly connected to the anticipated change and ensuing benefits. When we think about stopping a bad habit or creating a new one, it is always connected to a powerful enough reason to make the change worthwhile. Or else, why bother? One of the main reasons people falter and excitement wanes when trying to change is that we are not sufficiently excited about our “why bother.” So, know yours, write it down, be clear about it and remind yourself about it daily. Remember, your “why bother” connects directly to your goal statement – why is healing your pain, learning to love yourself and spending more quality time with your children important? How will you and they benefit from this? Get specific with your answers to these questions.
- Do a 21-day journey – It is with daily action that we make change. Sign up for my free email coaching program – 21 days of guidance, right on this page. Armed with your powerful goal statement, a clear picture of your “why bother,” and daily action steps focused on your desired outcomes, you WILL be successful.
- Begin with the end in mind – the most powerful way to begin any behavior or mindset change initiative is to get into the habit of seeing the end, as well as all the steps between here and there, as clearly and as vividly as you possibly can, on a daily basis. So if it’s more love, or self-love you are seeking, actually see yourself as a loving and loved person…whether you are actually feeling this or not, see it, sense it, meditate on it and affirm it daily. The feelings will follow the actions. They always do.
Take these 7 steps with as much serious intent and commitment as you reserve for only the most important journeys of your life and you will find yourself filled with a deep and lasting kind of joy, that will not wait for the next Valentine’s Day for expression. Your cup of love will be so full, it will simply flow over into every crevice of your life. Oh what joy! 🙂
Wishing you abundant love, joy and peace,
♥~