Give Unconditional Love – to Yourself
There has never been a great teaching on unconditional Love beyond spiritual texts both ancient and modern. From an early age, we learn to please or earn approval or to chase love through others, accomplishments or rewards. Frequently we exhaust ourselves on the effort and rarely experience the love without conditions.
Inside of a spiritual tradition it can be just as dicey – following a belief system or doing what is expected in order to earn God’s favor is as common in that venue as it is in the secular path. We have to dig deep to find examples or ways to let go and learn what it means to have and experience love of the unconditional kind.
The fastest route I know is through the love of an animal – in this case dogs or cats – and I am sorry if I am leaving out birds or guinea pigs. The Love of a dog is about trust – about the joy of discovering a toy or a lizard (no difference) about the happiness in their face when they see their people and the constancy of wanting to be near – just in case there is a treat or a pat.
We can allow this experience to teach us of this big Love – by watching how there is always beginning again -there is always a presence flowing through these creatures regardless if they are hurt or older or ill. Still that happiness that floods through them – just because we are there.
We In whatever way you discover it, give it to yourself in great abundance – let it pour over you this week -feel the difference it makes in every way on every day.
can learn to focus this laser of love our way – to give ourselves the joy of each morning as we wake up – giving ourselves a hug or a warm embrace for being who we are – the compassion for ourselves that we keep trying even when things are hard. Knowing that Love is always available in large supply just by pausing and giving it to ourselves moment by moment. To look at the eyes of our pet and seeing the love there – not for anything we did or will do – but just for being there.
If you don’t have a pet – watch for one in your area – or go to PetSmart (its adoption time there ) and see the hopeful love in each dog or cat…or watch a dog movie (racing in the Rain) or read a great story and notice how your heart is moved by the apparency of unconditional Love.
