Love: the foundation for your best life

Hey Blog Family,

I wrote last week about what constitutes a full life, and love came in first on the list. Not only do I believe people build good lives on foundations of devotion and friendship, but I think love functions as a basic necessity. Obviously, people need food, water, and shelter as rudimentary requirements, but I argue that love could also be considered fundamental. Even as infants, we need to be held, to feel safe, and to experience love in order for normal development to occur.

God created human beings for connectedness. Social media facilitates isolation; one no longer needs to speak to friends in order to keep up with their comings and goings. But, God never intended for us to go it alone. To exist without closeness guarantees emptiness. No matter how much stuff one accumulates, what considerable knowledge human brains contain, or how religious people may act, the total sum amounts to a hill of beans without loving relationships.

If I speak in the tongue of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV

We build three types of love in our lives. I use the word “build” because, despite what Hollywood heaves at humanity, love isn’t something that “happens.” Love is a choice, a choice one makes every day. I believe we build love through actions and words.

First, no amount of religiosity fills the gap which God designed for a personal relationship with Him. He authored unconditional love and created human beings to share His love. Deep in the souls of humanity remains a need to connect with our Creator.

Second, people need the love and support of others. No man functions as an island. Though society touts the advantages of self-sufficiency and strength, the real truth emerges through a need to experience expression, intimacy, and closeness with others. We desire to be known.

Third, self-love is important. As someone who spent a significant portion of my life suffering from self-loathing, I learned the importance of accepting who I am and loving myself for the way that I’m made. God intended me for a specific purpose, and He created me accordingly.

So now what? I want us all to be living our best lives and reaching our big dreams, so let’s take a look at some points to ponder:

• To live your best life, you need a spiritual connection. You are built to know God. Seek Him. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Spend time in nature, read, and pray in order to develop a relationship with God (whatever that might look like).
• Take a friend inventory. Think about the people in your life who support and encourage you; pour into those specific relationships. Be cognizant of negativity which may exist. Surround yourself with positive influences.
• Do something nice for yourself. Or, if you’re feeling really bold, say nice things to the reflection in the mirror (which can be quite difficult). Allow yourself to grow and change while accepting who you are. It’s okay to be you.

Actually, it’s awesome to be you.

Peace,

K.