* Love is a Practice

Practice loveAs human beings we all need love, but we rarely talk about what it means to us and how it works. That is why I appreciate how Brene Brown explores what it is in her book “The Gifts of Imperfection”

It took her decades of interviews and research to come up with this definition:

Love 
“Love is not something we give or get; it is something that we nurture and grow, a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists within each one of them – we can only love others as much as we love ourselves.

Shame, blame, disrespect, betrayal, and the withholding of affection damage the roots from which love grows. Love can only survive these injuries if they are acknowledged and healed.”

Yet … how many times do we think of love in terms of giving and taking?
How many times have we let ourselves down by failing to nourish and cultivate it?
How can we expect to love an other fully when we cannot love ourselves?

Love is an active verb. There is a profound difference between professing love and practicing it.

Practice love from the heart of your being.

Practice love towards yourself by learning to trust yourself and treating yourself with respect.
Practice  being kind and affectionate towards yourself.

Practice love towards an other by learning to trust and treating them with respect.
Practice being kind and affectionate every day.

❤️

43 responses to “* Love is a Practice”

  1. At the moment, I am being blocked from many WP posts, so I can’t access the rest

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Its frustrating when the technology we rely on goes array! May your connections free up again soon
      Derrick!

      Liked by 1 person

    2. That’s interesting Derrick – I have also had some trouble with being ‘blocked’. Seems to disappear the next day or when I next log on to my computer.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks, Vicki. Wish me luck

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        1. Sure do (wish you luck).

          Liked by 2 people

  2. Happy Easter, Val

    john

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Beautiful, Val! Happy Easter. xo

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Jill. Happy Easter to you 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Lovely sentiment here, Val. 💕

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Van. 💕

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Very inspirational. Have a great weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Kate. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend in this Spring weather ☀️

      Liked by 1 person

  6. “And still, after all this time,
    The sun never says to the earth,
    “You owe Me.”

    Look what happens with
    A love like that,
    It lights the Whole Sky.”

    ― Hāfez

    Liked by 2 people

    1. One of my Favorites 😃
      Thank you Nancy 💛

      Like

  7. Good inspiration for us,Val.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much Kim 💛

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  8. Wise words! Have a great weekend, Val. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Eliza. I hope you are enjoying yours too. ☀️

      Like

  9. BEautiful words! Beautiful loving action. Thank you VAl. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ahh yes. Thank you for putting your love into practice Louise 💛

      Like

  10. Thanks for the inspiration Val! My sister recently gave me that book, I haven’t started reading it yet, but I know it’s gonna be a good one. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It really is good Julie. Each chapter has som much inspiration.

      Like

  11. Let me perform an act of love, Val, which is to wish you and yours a very happy Easter.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Raj for sharing the love and including me in your practice. May I reciprocate and wish you a wonderful weekend 💛

      Like

  12. Walking My Path: Mindful Wanderings in Nature Avatar
    Walking My Path: Mindful Wanderings in Nature

    “Practice love from the heart of your being.” A wonderful, wise message. Happy Easter, Val.
    Peace
    Mary

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Mary for sharing your loving heart. Happy Easter to you. ☀️

      Liked by 1 person

  13. As I have said on numerous occasions, and it wouldn’t surprise me to know that it has been said by me in this place, it all comes down to relationships. And underpinning those relationships with others is the relationship with our self. Learnt that from a very wise person many years ago.

    That is at the heart of, “we can only love others as much as we love ourselves.”

    On first reading it could come across as sicophantic (sp?) but if one thinks of loving oneself as a product of our clearer self-awareness then that can sit more comfortably on our shoulders.

    Brene Brown’s book seems like a book to read!

    Well done, Val.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Paul. I knew that this would really resonate with you. Your practice of loving is wonderful to behold 💛

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I was taught it by our dogs! 😉

        Like

  14. Yes, how can we truly love another if we don’t first love ourselves? Sadly, I’ve known people who never grasp this concept.

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    1. Indeed 🌷. Thank you Helen 🐥🐰🐣

      Like

  15. I love this, Val. “Love is an active verb.” What a line. I wrote a whole passage in one of my books about the “practice.” That to move beyond “practice” is to say that there is nothing worthy of our effort and devotion. All of life is practice. 🙂

    Like

  16. Happy Easter Val. If only love could be the way for everyone the world would be a much safer and happier place. Practising love daily brings hope.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I agree Marje! Enjoy the long weekend and more time to appreciate and love 💛

      Liked by 1 person

  17. It is probably the most beautiful and rewarding thing one can practice!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ahh yes indeed Suzi ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

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About Me

My name is Val Boyko, a dual citizen living near Philadelphia, originally from Scotland.

This blog came to life one morning in 2013.  I woke up with these words in my mind:  “Life is a series of highs and lows. Be grateful for the highs. Be graceful in the lows. And find contentment in your Middle Ground.”

Find Your Middle Ground blog started to explore, reflect, ask deep questions, share insights about awakening, and connect with wonderful people like yourself. Thank you for being here and being such an inspiration.