Act From Love

The opposite of love is not hate, but fear. And if you ask yourself in any situation, “which is in charge – love or fear?,” you will find yourself behaving in ways that will help you be happier and make better relationships in all areas of life. When love is in charge, you are accepting, gentle, generous, relaxed, happy, open, fun-loving, creative, full of ideas and good humor. When fear is in charge, you are anxious, short-tempered, suspicious, timid, angry, selfish, and stuck. When fear is in charge, you take everything personally and believe the world is laughing at you or judging you. When love is in charge you understand that each person is on her own path and that her behavior has very little to do with you. When love is in charge, your face and body glow and exude health and healing. When fear is in charge, your body is tense and prone to disease and physical discomfort. When fear is in charge, you are demanding and judgmental. When love is in charge, you are grateful and content.
In any situation, you can make a decision to act from love instead of from fear. When you act from love, you create trust, hope, justice, kindness, compassion, dignity, respect, connection, opportunity, joy, peace, creativity, quiet, encouragement, intimacy, confidence, health, freedom, acceptance, beauty. When you act from fear, you create oppression, separation, disease, self-loathing, clutter, discouragement, confusion, loss, self-harm, aggression, loneliness, hate, violence, stagnation, suspicion, distrust, hopelessness. Fear can feel overwhelming and true, but it’s only information. When it is a gut reaction to actual danger, listen to it and make yourself safe. Otherwise, it’s just anxiety about some imagined future occurrence. It only has the power you give it. Choose love.

You Are Surrounded By Loving Friends

Whenever you are sad you are surrounded by loving friends. We always hear your cries. We always dry your tears. It's good to find people on earth who will do the same, but even when you can't or when you do not allow willing friends to see your pain, even then, we are with you. Close your eyes, breathe in deeply, quiet your mind, and you will feel our presence. You will feel our love. Let us wrap you in our loving embrace, and you will begin to feel better. You are beautiful. You are safe. You are worthy.

To Be Loved

To be loved, begin by loving. To be respected, begin by treating others respectfully. To be understood and accepted, begin by understanding and accepting yourself just as you are.

Your Essential Freedom

Your freedom lies within your heart -- your freedom to choose light, love, happiness, joy, generosity. That is your true freedom. When you are in touch with that essential freedom, all your choices in the world are part of your movement toward enlightenment. You say yes when it's for your highest good and the highest good of others. When you are in touch with your inner freedom and take responsibility for your choices in the world, then you are content, and you accept any situation you have co-created.

Ask the Question

Whenever you spend any time wondering what someone else is thinking, you are stealing from your own life. Whenever you play out conversations in your head, you are wasting precious minutes. Speak up, ask the question, find out what's going on for the other person. Everything else is just speculation.

Kindly Speak

Speak what's in your heart, and expect no particular outcome. Speak with the sole goal of communicating your thoughts and feelings. What the other person takes from it is out of your hands. Kindly speak what's in your heart and let it be.

Choose Your Own New Year

You are free to choose your own new year. You needn't start in the dead of winter. Perhaps spring seems more like a beginning to you, or summer. For some of you autumn is what feels like a new beginning. Choose your own time for reflection and for looking forward, for taking stock and forming resolutions. You might even make a new beginning at each new moon. Whatever society says, you are free to choose. Follow your own rhythm, your own heart.