I love you! These three words mean so much...some of the time. At other times, they can merely be hollow words with nothing evident in sight to back them up. To see how our love stacks up in terms of action, we can ask ourselves these questions.
I love you! These three words mean so much...some of the time. At other times, they can merely be hollow words with nothing evident in sight to back them up.
What they often mean is "I love you as long as I get that warm fuzzy feeling inside when I'm around you or when I think of you. Just don't ask me to demonstrate my love by asking too much of me."
When we equate love with internal feelings of bliss, it becomes dependent on our "loved" ones pleasing us on a consistent basis and asking very little in return. It's easy to feel "love" when it does not make many demands on us or our time.
Too often, we work harder to please relative strangers than those we say we "love." When we feel secure in our relationships, we tend to take them for granted and forget the importance of demonstrating our love on a day-to-day basis.
Love, in the truest sense of the word, is an action verb. We can say "I love you" and truly feel like we mean it, but the proof of our love is in our actions.
To see how our love stacks up in terms of action, we can ask ourselves these questions:
1. How do I demonstrate my love through action?
2. How do my loved ones experience my love?
3. If I didn't say the words, could they tell by my actions that I love them?
4. Do I demonstrate my love even when I don't feel "loving?"
5. Do my loved ones have to please me to "feel" wrapped in my love?
6. What actions from others do I experience as "loving?"
7. Do I only show love when I am "feeling" loved?
8. Who in my life demonstrates their love for me through their actions?
9. Are there people in my life who say they love me without providing any evidence of this love other than mere words?
10. What can I do differently to demonstrate my love?
11. Do I show love for myself in my actions - even when I don't "feel" deserving of this love?
When we reflect on these questions, we can heighten our awareness of our own ability to put love into action- with others and with ourselves. We can DECIDE to love when we see it as an active force rather than merely a feeling. True love exists when our actions match our words!
Lesson Plans for Life!
Fabulous lives usually don't just happen. They are more likely to occur when you design them to your own specifications and create lesson plans to make them happen. When you take an active role in creating the life of your dreams, you empower yourself to go after the things, people, and experiences you desire. To make things happen, try these techniques!
Create a Wish List!
When you find yourself in the middle of the winter doldrums, sometimes it's fun to sit down with your favorite beverage, grab a notebook and pen, and create your ultimate wish list. This is the time to give the "dreamer" in you free reign. Don't hold back. Don't judge your wishes. Don't limit yourself by what you believe is possible.
Developing Resilience in Our Children!
One of the most useful qualities an adult can possess is the ability to bounce back in the face of disappointment and adversity. Depriving our children of opportunities to develop resilience does not serve them well in the long run.
