Unconditional Love & Compassion

LOVE
“If you love a flower, don’t pick it up. Because if you pick it up it dies and it ceases to be what you love. So if you love a flower, let it be. Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation.” -Osho

Love is the purest form of appreciation. It is complete adoration and acceptance. All love starts from within, and you have to love yourself enough before you can purely love another. It is a free-flowing expression that does not have to feel as intimidating as culture makes it seem. “I love you” should be as common as “how are you?” Let yourself feel risk-less love towards yourself and others. Love is never abusive in any form. Just as we discovered how loving ourselves requires respect and boundaries, so does loving and being loved by others.

-Do you have any resistance or qualms about “love” or “being in love”?
-Do you feel like you have a healthy amount of self love?
-Do you maintain a healthy balance of giving and receiving love?
-Practice feeling love flow through you. Move through life and feel love and appreciation for the things that surround you at every moment. For instance, perhaps on your walk: “I love you bird, I love you fire hydrant, I love you random person!” Feel the feels, keep welcoming in the love and appreciation.

COMPASSION
“If you were to read the secret history of your enemies you’ll find enough suffering to disarm all hostility.” -Henry Longfellow

Compassion is one the greatest gifts we can access as humans. We are the strongest of beings when we can see the light in others no matter what, when we can relate to their struggles and display unconditional love for their journey. No matter what people go through, we see they are people. Humans are intelligent, good and life-ward. We know everyone has their pains, shames, traumas and insecurities, as well as their hopes, dreams, and unique, extraordinary gifts. When we meet ourselves and others in places other than this, may we be careful, gentle and non-judgmental. May we go deeper. Remember to get to know them, or just remember to know.

You will never be offended when you remember that everyone is on their own journey, going through their own processing and unfolding. Look deeper into people. See their spirit and their suffering. Seek to better understand the reasoning behind their decisions and actions. Can you see parts of yourself in their suffering?

“When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don’t blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change.” – Thich Nhat Hanh