Self-Actualization: To BE Love (Not Just Be “in” love). 

February is a time of year when a lot of people turn their attention to romantic love. Red and pink balloons accompanied by cupids, feathers, hearts and various sundry of gushing, sentiment. It’s a great time to be grateful for that kind of love. It’s also a perfect time to reflect on what Love (with a capital L) means to you and, more importantly, what you mean to it.

I differentiate the two because Love (with a capital L) has a lot more to do with who you are, how you show up and what you contribute to the world and not just the experience you have with the people in your immediate circle.

Love (L) is an over-arching state of being. It encompasses your own healing as well as any participation you may have in others’. It brings to bear the elements of growth and, ultimately, happiness. If Love is the ocean then it is made up of countless drops that we all contribute. Drops of compassion, kindness, forgiveness, letting go, starting again, trust, partnership, contribution. Every little bit of healing you contribute in your life goes into a pot we all share.

Healing Starts With You

As you move through this month pay attention to the stories you have about healing, growth, partnership and contribution. There’s no need to judge your thoughts as they arise but if you do pay attention to those judgments as well. Your reactionary thoughts about yourself and others tell you a lot about where you have healing (and growth) to do.

Lao Tzu Quote on Kindness as a path toward Love

Progress, Not Perfection

You’ll notice, in the Passion on Purpose daily email prompts there’s a lot of focus in the Clarity section around identifying those previously unconscious thoughts. To be healed…your wounds must, first, be revealed. If you don’t even know what hurtful thought-habits are undermining your healing and growth you will forever be hindered by them on the path that is currently revealing itself to you.

Step gently on this path of forgiveness…of energy reclamation. Step, of course. Always step. Just be sweet with yourself while you embark on this, your most important journey. And remember what was left when Pandora’s box revealed all of humanity’s shadow self….HOPE.


Know of any other great resources on the topic? Share them in your comments on February’s PoP discussion page. I’d love to hear what resonates with YOU!