“May we care about
becoming loving more than anything else in life” (David Richo)
San Valentino, a third
century Roman, whose name we take to observe 14 February, might have agreed.
Certainly the
motivational writer Susan Jeffers, whose mission was to help us face our fears
and do it anyway, did.
She urged us to focus
on the higher purpose of our relationships: that being, to help us learn to
become more loving.
Our best workshops -
our relationship – or the lack of one – provide rich fertile ground to learn
how to be that more powerful and loving person.
As she pointed out, we don’t
have to be in a relationship or wait for our partner to want to work on the
relationship: we can work fruitfully and joyfully on our own.
In fact because, our
mind controls so much of the quality of our relationships and our life, the
only logical place is to start with ourselves: to start cleaning our own mind
and explore our own thought patterns and beliefs.
A way to do this? 'Pick up the mirror instead of the magnifying
glass'.
Rather than attribute
blame or judgement to the other, we turn within. By doing this, we come face to face with our
negative habits, self-imposed obstacles and blind spots to replace them with new
found awareness and positive habits.
As many a wise person
has alluded to and which was eloquently and convincingly captured by Gandhi, “we
must become the change we want to see”.
If we want our partner
to have certain qualities, we have to challenge ourselves as to what extent we
ourselves embody those very qualities. If
we want our partner to be interesting, sensual, appreciative, caring, courageous
and open, we have to ask ourselves ...what are we doing to be interesting,
sensual, appreciative, caring, courageous and open? We have to go about developing those exact
qualities we search in our mate, in ourselves.
And of course, this is
not confined to romantic relationships. All our relationships provide an
opportunity for us to become more loving.
As leaders, if we want our followers to be creative, collaborative, compassionate....we
have to cultivate those characteristics in ourselves.
And of course, looking within and
working on these new habits and qualities takes....practise, practise, practise.
May you enjoy practising
this Valentine’s Day...and every other day.
Sources:
- Richo, D, (2002), How To Be An Adult in Relationships: The Five Keys to Mindful Loving, Shambhala Publications, Inc. Boston, Massachusetts. P. 155
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine
- A tribute to love and the late Susan Jeffers who passed away in 27th October 2012. Jeffers, S (2005), The Feel The Fear Guide to Lasting Love, Vermilion. (specific pieces from pages 44, 53, 72, 222) http://www.susanjeffers.com/home/index.cfm
- Image as posted on Facebook by Vivid Greeting Cards on 2 November 2012. Vivid Greeting Cards – luxury matte greeting cards. Sign up to their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vivid-Greeting-Cards/187838957957375?sk=info
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