...and the world will be a better place for you and me.
Do you believe that? Is it as simple as putting a little love in your heart? Will the world really be a better place?
I believe it. I believe that love trumps hate, that good trumps bad, that kindness trumps meanness....and I believe that we all benefit when we all have a little more love in our heart.
The lyrics by Jackie DeShannon provide a few insights about what you can do, like 'Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand', and 'I hope when you decide, kindness will be your guide'.
I am reminded in this month of love, about another song by Haddaway called 'What is Love?' While I cannot help but think of the Saturday Night Live skit featuring Jim Carrey, Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell (with a huge smile on my face...and a little love in my heart),
..it dawned on me that we could all use a reminder of what love is, and how we might be able to put a little love in our heart. This skit is so engaging because it reminds us all of our search for 'love', for acceptance, for connection as we navigate our way through life. It also adds a humorous look at how we often don't really know what love is. Rather than focusing on what love is NOT (love is not pain, like the lyrics, 'Baby, don't hurt me' remind us), let's focus on what love is and some things that you CAN do to generate it.
LOVE is strong attachment, attraction, warm affection, enthusiasm or devotion. When you think of this definition, what is 'love' to you?
Here is a little LOVE acronym with some ideas to help you put a little love in your heart:
L - Look around. On purpose, every day, choose to focus on what brings love into your heart. It might be a person, a pet, a place, a thing...take a few moments at the beginning and end of your day to focus on and 'feel' love in your heart. Remember to purposely focus on what you love about YOURSELF, and what you add to the people, places and things around you.
O -Opt for compassion. You might not always 'lend a helping hand', maybe 'kindness' isn't always 'your guide' - in fact, maybe you behaved down-right badly toward another person or situation. Show compassion to yourself (and to others when they might need that from you). Give yourself the oportunity to make an adjustment. Perhaps you will apologize, or maybe you will offer forgiveness. In all cases, let go and move on (with a little love in your heart).
V - Be Vulnerable. Rather than waiting for someone else to show kindness toward you, choose to go first. Put yourself on the line. Reach out. Help someone else. Make that call you don't have time to make. Stop and chat with someone you might otherwise walk past. Offer a compliment or a word of encouragement to another person (and to yourself).
E - Nourish the Ecosystem. You Matter. What you think, feel and do makes a difference to you and to the ecosystems of which you are a part. Every moment of every day you are either contributing positively to the ecosystem (yourself, your family, your community, your workplace), or not. You determine whether or not 'the world will be a better place', or not. Choose positive. Choose nourishment. Choose life. Choose love.
And, if your mind and body are full of love....if the world is full of love....there is no room, no space, no chance for anything else to exist. And that is just better for you and for me.
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