Seven Steps to Activate Self Love

Immature love demands love from another —mature love seeks love from within

We cannot truly love others without  having love for ourselves first. If we don’t regularly fill up our hearts with love,  eventually we become depleted and empty. The most fulfilling and rewarding love is self  love. To activate the essence of self love we need to open our heart to love. We need to keep the heart open for love grow in our hearts.

Love is the highest and most elusive treasure we all seek. When our hearts are closed we shut ourselves away from receiving and giving love. We create a lonely inner prison. Even when people love us, we cannot receive their love if the door to our heart is closed. Love is like balm on a sore wound and when we create a ‘heart-wall’,  love slides off the wall without penetrating the inner being.

When we consciously bring love and compassion into our heart, the love seed in our heart grows. The more the love in our heart grows, the more deeply we can love ourselves and  others. A side effect of self love is the growth of self esteem, self respect and self worth.

Love is like a rose that needs to be cultivated and nurtured regularly for it to grow and flourish. There are many moments throughout the day that often go unnoticed. When you choose to be present to such moments you are opening the doorway of your heart.

When you consciously open your heart  to love daily, not only do you build  resilience when you  face with life events, but also move through the wall of resistance.

Each breath you take is an opportunity to love and melt the ‘heart wall’.  The breath is the bridge that connects mind and body. The bridge is the relationship between the mind and the body.

What is the relationship you have with yourself?
Do you spend quality time with yourself?
Are you creating  experiences that nourish your heart?

Mother nature is our greatest teacher.  As you go about your day, pause often to observe the scenes, colours, sounds and shapes around you. Marvel for a while at the natural wonders of this planet. Fill your heart with what you see and take it in with your breath.

When you go about your day, walk through the park, look up in the sky or listen to birds singing—you are learning to pay attention to your environment in a new way. Begin to notice things with new eyes and marvel at the natural beauty around you as you take in the good experience.

Love is a process of maturation that occurs with experience as we grow in understanding and wisdom. Activate your love heart today by following a simple seven step process. It only takes 10 breaths of your time for a lifetime of benefit.

1.     Set the intent before going to bed that you will expand your love heart

2.     Connect with your intent as soon as you wake up with the view to take positive action for yourself.

3.     Look for opportunities in your environment for things that make you take notice. It could be a flower, the blue sky, a tree, the moon, stars or anything  that requires nothing from you – only your presence.

4.     Stay with the experience for at least 10 breaths, following your awareness with your breath. Breathe through your nose, drop the breath in your heart and breathe out through your mouth.

5.     As you breathe in visualize filling your heart with love particles while you  focus on the mystery of nature.

6.     Experience the opening in your heart as your mind is engaged with the bodily felt experience. Do not give in to the critical voice if it emerges. Reconnect to your present experience.

7.     Reinforce the new habit with a mantra. Eg. “I fill my heart with love” or “I love myself as I am right now”.

Repeat these seven steps daily. The more you repeat this the deeper the new groove will become and the greater your capacity for giving and receiving love. You are also rewiring your brain for more love and compassion.

For a more in depth process go to ‘7 Steps to Inner Connection’