Love builds up and fear tears down. That simple?

I believe that every single event in life happens in an opportunity to choose love over fear. Oprah Winfrey

I have recently been thinking about this notion that there are only two emotions: Love and Fear. For myself and for my clients, this has been both liberating and confounding. How does this knowledge change how I think about my general state of mind and my interactions with others?

I have this perception of myself that says that I have love and compassion for every human. For those of you who know me, you might beg to differ, but it is certainly something I strive for.

And then I have a “tussle” with someone in one of my classes or a friend or family member and I wonder how I strayed so far from my desired impact. I suspect you have the same experiences.

If you truly want your impact in this world to be positive, life-giving and truthful, you must come to each thought, relationship and conversation with a spirit of love.

Love believes in the goodness of people. Love treats self and others with respect. Love assumes good intent and acts with good intent. Love is direct and constructive.

On the other hand, Fear assumes the worst. Fear is only concerned with self. Fear holds things back. Fear sets up an “us against them” mentality.

Ultimately, fear tears down. Love builds up.

In order to choose love over fear, you must first be conscious of what this looks like for you. What are the behaviors, the words, and the choices that come out of love? Alternatively, what are the elements of your relationships that come out of fear? Another – and helpful - way to think about this is to ask yourself what the IMPACT is that you want to have in this situation, with this human, with this group, with your life… As we say in planning and visioning exercises, what does success look like for you?

I am no expert on this topic. Instead, I am a novice practitioner and an enthusiastic advocate for helping to create a world motivated by love. Will you join me?

Facebook

0

Twitter

Google+

0

Linkedin

email