When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you notice all that’s good and beautiful about the person looking back at you, or is it the flaws that draw you in?
What do you put your energy toward when you look around you? Do you celebrate the synchronicities, blessings and things that somehow work out for the best, or is it the things that don’t seem to be working that get more of your attention?
How do you most often perceive the world as a whole? Do you notice its beauty and wonder, or view it as a place of brokenness?
There’s a universal law that states that the universe is always listening and responding to you. It doesn’t discern between what’s “good” or “bad” for you. It responds to you by giving you more of what you put your energy toward.
So then, it could be that your perspective is limiting you from experiencing more of what you do want in your life.
In this article, you’ll learn what may be sabotaging you and what miracle-making shift will empower you to live an even more fulfilling, joyful life!
Love is the 4-Letter Word that Can Transform Your Life
It may seem obvious, but Love can transform your life. Not just being Loved by others, but Love of self, Love of others, Love of God, and Love of the experience of living moment by moment.
I was reading a book by one of my favorite authors, Gabrielle Bernstein. In it, she referenced a teaching from a spiritual text I’d never heard of called, A Course in Miracles (CIM). The CIM says that there are only two perspectives through which we see ourselves and approach our lives — Fear and Love.
When I read this, I was taken by the simplicity of this teaching, yet how much sense it makes. Rather than focusing on the divine Love that’s within us and connects us, we live in a world that teaches us that we’re separate from Love, separate from one another, and separate from God.
It’s this separateness that leads to a myriad of emotions, such as loneliness, anxiety, vulnerability, insecurity, self-doubt, and a need to control. Being completely separate from Love can lead to intolerance, bigotry, and hate.
In an effort to protect us and help us feel a sense of safety and security, our human minds create judgements and biases that become subconscious responses and are based on one underlying emotion. Fear.
Because most of us are not conscious of which lens we’re looking through, we’ve been conditioned by our culture, our human experience, and often our religions to see what’s broken about ourselves and in the world. Instead of focusing on the good, we focus our energy on what needs to be fixed. Looking through a lens of Love shifts our awareness onto what’s whole and beautiful in ourselves and in the world around us.
As the CIM explains, we can’t experience two emotions at the same time. When we operate from a Fear-based perspective, we block our ability to see and experience Love. And this disconnection shakes our ability to trust — to trust in our higher self, to trust one another, to trust God and in the notion that the Universe has our back.
The Power of Perspective
I’ve always been an introspective person. So I naturally look at things and situations from different angles. But until I read about this concept, I never considered the degree to which my perspective impacts the quality of my relationship with myself, my family, my friends, and with God.
What’s inspired me most is how a simple shift in how we perceive ourselves, our interactions with others and the situations we encounter can improve our mental and emotional well-being.
For example, when you feel overwhelmed by your to-do list, consider that your stress may be coming from a Fear of dropping balls and disappointing yourself and others. Looking through a Love-based lens can help alleviate this Fear and reduce your stress. Start by offering yourself compassion. Strive for progress, not perfection. Next, give yourself the freedom of crossing off your self-imposed “should’s” from your list. Finally, celebrate every strike-through!
Becoming conscious of your language can also effectively help you shift your perspective. For example, perhaps you’re someone (like me) who doesn’t enjoy cooking. A simple, yet powerful way to see an activity you don’t enjoy through a Love-based lens is to replace the word “have” with “get”. Instead of saying, “I have to …”, say “I get to …”. Then, rather than give your attention to the aspects you don’t like, give yourself a moment to consider the positive outcomes that doing the activity will bring about that you do like — like connecting with your family over a healthy meal.
These examples illustrate how shifting from Fear to Love can enhance the joy and fulfillment you feel in your everyday life.
We Have the Power Within Us to Redefine Our Lives!
Love transforms our knee-jerk, Fear-based thoughts by unblocking the Love-based emotions like trust, wholeness, compassion, gratitude and peace that are part of our true nature.
I want to share this simple prayer written by a Benedictine Nun that I discovered in a book called, Loveability, written by Robert Holden, Ph.D. It clearly demonstrates a Love-based perspective. “Oh God, help me to believe the truth about myself no matter how beautiful it is. Amen.”
What we focus on grows. So when we look at ourselves and the world around us through a lens of Love, when we give our attention to what is working, we will begin to experience more Love — Love of self, Love of others, Love of God, and Love of the precious moments of life.
Something important to understand is that adopting a Love-based perspective in life will not stop you from feeling Fear. However, the 6 keys below are meant to empower you when you encounter Fear. Rather than reacting to the person or situation with anger, frustration, defensiveness, or by retreating, you’ll be better prepared to alter your perspective and respond with Love, faith and trust.
Key #1: Create Your Conscious Commitment to Choose Love
Gaining awareness that you have moment-by-moment control to shift your lens to Love puts the power in your hands. The first step to living a more Love-filled life is to commit to a continual practice of noticing and intentionally shifting your lens to Love.
Key #2: Be Present.
When we stay in the present, we aren’t replaying a past we cannot change or worrying about a future that may or may not ever come to pass. These tendencies create Fear-based thoughts and emotions. Being present allows us to free up our mental energy to consciously meet each coming moment with Love.
Keys #3: Practice a Beginner’s Mind
To have a beginner’s mind is to see life anew, as though you are seeing it for the first time. A beginner’s mind eliminates the biases, judgments and past experiences that color the way we see the world. Rather, allow Love to inspire you to see things with the open perspective of a beginner’s mind.
Key #4: Notice, Forgive and Choose Again
When you find yourself in a place of worry, anger, loneliness, or Fear, pause to notice the quality of your thoughts and the story you’re hearing in your mind. Then try peeling away the layers to see what it is that’s triggering you. Without judgement, acknowledge whatever comes to you. Once acknowledged, give yourself permission to forgive and let go and consciously choose to shift your lens to Love.
Key #5: Practice a Heart-Centering Breath
When you struggle to shift your lens to Love, put your right hand on your heart and close your eyes. Inhale for a count of 4, hold your breath for a count of 1, then exhale for a count of 8. As you breathe, move your awareness to your heart. Bring to mind something that you’re grateful for. Allow the feeling of gratitude to fill your he0521art. Continue with your practice until you feel ready to allow the wisdom of your heart to support your shift to Love.
Key #6: Practice Forgiveness, Acceptance, and Compassion
Experiencing a Love-filled life includes a regular practice of acceptance, forgiveness, and compassion. With gentleness, we can accept where we are in our journey, offer forgiveness and compassion to ourselves and others, and consciously choose to live a Love-filled life.
Access this technique on my Tools page anytime! (It’s under Downloadables section.)
I’d love to hear from you! Comment below to share your experience or you can always email me, I want to hear all about it, [email protected]
