The consequence of love
What is the consequence of love? The consequence of love is life. In every aspect of our living, in one way or another we recognize that love is the guiding force within us. Through self discovery, acceptance, kindness and gratitude we come to understand how our lives are entirely stitched together with love.
Every artist depicts love in some way, be it romantic, platonic, self or unconditional, and none of us could go a day without it. Somehow our world seems like it falls short of love. Often we find ourselves stumbling in the dark, not knowing all of the love life has for us. Every religion and philosophy has its roots in love and we all strive for love. The Beatles even have song lyrics that sing “all you need is love” and that cliche couldn’t be more true.
So what is love? Love is flowers opening to the sun for the first time. Love is the look a mother gives her new born. Love is the way the ocean still kisses the shoreline despite how many times it’s sent away. Love is our entire existence and you reading this now, are love manifested in ecstatic motion.
This isn’t just sappy hippie talk. Love is practical. We’re talking about self love. Which so often nowadays we seem to be void of. We have become a society of comparisons instead of compassion. We are quick to point fingers at each other, and take sides, compare our struggles and victories to others. We watch each other on social media and desire the type of love we only see in pictures.
Where has the love for ourselves gone?
When we talk about self love, we have to look deeper than just our appearance. How often do we criticize our appearance and ourselves vs how often do we praise and honor ourselves? Chances are criticizing ourselves far outweighs honoring ourselves. What if instead of waging wars on ourselves we made peace? I wonder if the world would be more gentle. What if instead of talking down to ourselves, we raised and empowered ourselves. I bet the world would be kinder.
Try this, remember that you were a child once, because somewhere you still are. Remember how wide eyed you looked at the world. Remember the way you laughed harder because you liked how it sounded. Remember the joy you found in simple things, like your imagination, and go live there. Hold this remembrance and use it as a tool to be more gentle to yourself, the way you were when you were only a kid. Dust off the bruises and go back to living and loving your life. And as you remember this,whenever you feel void of love, tell yourself how amazing you are, because you are and you always will be. Tell yourself you love yourself, because deep down you do.
Remember that love is love, because it is and it always will be. Remember that even though you can’t feel it all the time, you are loved, by many including yourself. Remember you’re on purpose out loud. Remember all you are is beautiful. Shakespeare said “a rose by any other name, would still be as sweet”. How true that statement is. After all your life is a rose garden in constant bloom. Stop and take it all in. Inhale your living, this life is love.
Be gentle, this world needs more you in it.