“… faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” ~ 1 Corinthians 13:13
February is the month of love. We are bombarded by it – everywhere. Ways to show love to someone with the perfect gift or the largest flower bouquet. Chocolate covered love. Sparkly love. Expensive love. Recently I saw handwritten love notes.
Even in the Science Of Mind and Spirit teachings, love is everywhere. We pray and speak about it often. We often use Love as one of the names for God.
As a Religious Science Practitioner, Love is the one feeling / quality I pray the most for and with people. Each of us want to experience more love, be more loving, no matter what is happening in our lives.
And in this world today, love can help close the divide between us and our fellow human travelers. Love, it is said, has the power to heal.
So… how can we we bring more love into our experience?
The answer I believe is Self-Love.
To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance. ~ Oscar Wilde
The Science of Mind and Spirit teaches us that what we want to experience in this life must be expressed through us. What a great opportunity for us to be the love we want. What does that really mean?
It means love all starts with you.
What if I said by loving yourself you could experience a greater, deeper more authentic love – maybe even be happier, healthier?
You’d probably tell me I was crazy. And a while back, I’d have said the same. But Science of Mind and Spirit is a teaching of principles scientifically provable in practice. As we change our thoughts and practices, our life and world change.
I’m going to share a spiritual practice I use. Use it to exercise your self-love muscles AND open your heart to a greater and deeper love.
A spiritual practice in Loving Self
- Gratitude: Be thankful for everything about you. Loving every part of yourself, including the interesting, helps you be present with yourself. It also brings an appreciation of your uniqueness and how you show up in this world. Each night write three gratitudes about you.
- Forgiveness: What does forgiveness have to do with self-love? Well… we’ve all experienced a broken heart. Forgiving yourself for any misunderstandings or any hurts – knowing you did the best you could in the situation – allows the heart (and mind) a chance to heal. For the next week, write down one forgiveness to and for yourself. Begin with “I forgive myself for…” and once it’s written, thank Spirit for allowing you to let it go for good.
- Feel it Baby: Ernest Holmes wrote “be what you wish to be, feel what you wish to feel, and place no limit on Principle.” What does love feel like to you? Is it joy? Is it safety? For one minute, tap into that feeling of love and put the energy into the Universe and watch it return to you.
Remember at CSL Boulder Valley, our motto is Love Lives Here. Why not choose for this week – or even this month, that you be the place where love lives?
