Love life and life will love you back.    

Love people and they will love you back.

- Arthur Rubinstein

  

Are you waiting for someone to love you or something wonderful to happen before exclaiming, "I love my life!"  Most people think circumstances, people, or events will make them feel loved, happy, or fulfilled.  But when we expect something outside ourselves to make us feel loved we are giving our power away.  Because when that person or situation changes so do our feelings, which can lead to a roller coaster of emotions.  We become powerless passengers, along for the ride but never in control.
 
This month try a new way of being.  First create a feeling of love inside yourself, and then express that love to people around you.  Love is composed of many qualities - gratitude, peace, appreciation, acceptance, fondness, recognition, and compassion.  When you are filled with positive feelings from the inside out, circumstances don't matter as much.  Things could go wrong in a day, but you could find yourself unaffected. 

We've all had days when we've felt so good that nothing could disturb that positive feeling. Recall one of those moments now.  It might have been watching a sunset, sitting by a lake, or walking in a park on a sunny day.  As you recall this moment, notice how you are eliciting positive emotions.  Notice how simply shifting your attention can create a positive feeling inside you.  YOU are creating this feeling.  Nothing outside you has changed.  All you did was shift your attention from something negative to positive.

You can also connect with feelings of peace, acceptance, and appreciation by starting a gratitude journal.  Write down 3-4 things you accomplished that day you are proud of.  Or change your self-talk from critical to complimentary.  The secret to success is doing one of these behaviors consistently.   

 
This month ask yourself at the start of each day, "What way can I love myself more?" A simple shift in your focus, attitude, or expectations can significantly change your life.

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