Love, Love, Love

Everyone just wants to love and be loved. I heard this somewhere recently, and it was one of those things where everyone in the room just paused for a moment. Such a simple truth. No one can really argue with that. I brought it up in the middle of an intense conversation at one of my classes recently, and again there was this pause with an ensuing connectedness in the room.

The interesting thing is we all seem to know this, but forget it regularly. I have been practicing re-minding myself this simple truth in different situations. Give it a whirl. I have found it very helpful.

Practice re-minding yourself this when you are in the grocery store. Practice it the next time you are in an argument. Practice it when you feel impatient with your child......or anyone. Practice it when you feel angry, excited, upset, joyful, sad, indifferent. Say it slowly - slower and still slower. Remember as you practice it that it is everyone, everywhere, all of the time.

Today's journal exercise:

Today write this statement slowly in your journal seven times. When you are finished begin stream of consciousness writing for at least 3 pages on whatever comes up for you. Anything and everything that comes up for you. Just write it down.

Ideas

I get a lot of my ideas for posts here from people in various parts of my life. Most recently I've noticed a lot of ideas come from Facebook friends - Thanks! Just when I think I am not sure where the next idea will come from I read something, bump into an old friend, or get a phone call from someone who just needs to vent and suddenly I've heard something that is just the perfect re-minder.

In the career development classes I teach I always tell participants that 80% of all jobs come from networking. Then we go on to talk about how many other things also come from networking - like ideas!

Today's re-minder - connecting with others in many different ways brings value to my life in more ways than I can count!

Connect More

What if we took this connecting thing to another level? Consider all the people who are currently in the wall paper of your life. Oh sure, you might talk to them or maybe you don't. We're talking about the people who are running in the background of your life. There are hundreds, thousands, but we barely even notice them.

It's the people driving in the cars next to you, the banker, the woman walking down the same store aisle as you. The people at the next table in the restaurant, the waitress or the guy walking down the street. The children standing in line for the bus or the lady in the office next to yours. The cashier, the man next to you in line or the receptionist at the doctor's office. This list could go on and on.

Who do they love? What are they hurting about in silence? What is their favorite color? What concerns them? What do they love to do? What did they forget about? Who are their friends? What do they wish for?

What if just noticing them or thinking about them made a connection that makes a difference? What if hundreds, thousands or millions of us noticed another person in some small but kind way?

Journal question for today:

Who is in the wall paper of my everyday life and what kind thought could I have for them today? How would this change my world?

Connect

We all long to connect. We want to be a part of. When we connect with others we begin to experience our oneness.

How can you connect with someone today. Is there someone in your life on a regular basis you can connect with more deeply? Could you ask them about a part of themselves you may take for granted?

Is there someone you may not normally connect with? It could be as simple as a smile or a hello. It could be as simple as letting go of a judgemental thought of either someone you know or someone you don't.

Maybe you need to connect with yourself a little more. Could you use just a moment a lone to relax? Have you been putting off something you would like to do for yourself? Are you the one who you have been judging?

When we make a conscious effort to connect with another, and even with ourselves we fulfill one of our greatest needs.