Can Unconditional Love Heal The World?
All human behaviour is either an act of love or a cry for love.
Stan Dale
Human beings require authentic connection. Research has shown that infants can die from a lack of affection and attention, and in older adults, loneliness is said to be the top cause of depression1.
We also know that humans thrive in a state of positivity and negative emotions can cause disease.
We are meant to love and be loved.
As children, we often grow up believing it is unsafe to express our true selves. To survive and be successful, we emotionally disconnect from our real feelings, learning to wear a mask and play various acting roles. We become fragmented and lose our sense of self.
We cannot genuinely connect with others if we are disconnected from ourselves. In a profound video called “Radical Love, Part 2: Loving Ourselves into Healing”, author Tara Brach explains how radical love must begin with self-love.
It all starts from our relationship with ourselves.
How do we heal our relationship with ourselves so that we can learn to connect with others in an authentic way? It begins with loving yourself unconditionally … in the same way that a parent loves a child. Radical love inspires forgiveness, healing, inner peace, positive change, personal empowerment, and creativity.
Radical love transforms us—it is key to our individual and collective evolution.
Our need for love and connection is so fundamental that in its absence we turn to addiction to fill the void. However, addiction, such as to drugs, food, toxic relationships, sex, pornography, money, power, etc. cannot replace love and can quickly become a bottomless pit leading to self-destruction.
THE OPPOSITE OF ADDICTION IS NOT SOBRIETY. IT IS HUMAN CONNECTION.
Johann Hari
BRING DOWN YOUR BARRIERS TO LOVE
Spend time reflecting on your relationship with yourself. Is your self-talk empowering? Do you feel worthy of love, success, and happiness? If not, explore any negative emotions or limiting beliefs you have about yourself, such as shame or self-doubt.
It may be beneficial to seek professional counselling in some circumstances.
By learning to practice compassion on ourselves we are better able to show it to others.
AND AS WE LET OUR OWN LIGHT SHINE, WE UNCONSCIOUSLY GIVE OTHER PEOPLE PERMISSION TO DO THE SAME. AS WE ARE LIBERATED FROM OUR OWN FEAR, OUR PRESENCE AUTOMATICALLY LIBERATES OTHERS.”
Marianne Williamson
Another way to bring down our barriers to love is to understand our unity and interconnection. Letting go of ego and the illusion of separation can help to shift our focus from self-consciousness and self-loathing to self-awareness and serving others.
A lack of self-worth and self-esteem actually causes selfishness. Learning to love ourselves is the best thing we can do to make the world a better place.
We are all inherently worthy of unconditional love. “We exist, therefore we are worthy” (Edelstein, Bob).2
Radical love is selfless. It is not an attachment, feeling, or desire. Radical love is a commitment to the evolution of ourselves and others.
Once we understand how deeply interconnected we all are, it is the only thing that makes sense.
REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING CONNECTS TO EVERYTHING ELSE.
Leonardo Da Vinci
Footnote:
- Melore, Chris (www.studyfinds.org) “Loneliness the top cause of depression in older adults, even if they’re socially active”, https://www.studyfinds.org/loneliness-top-cause-of-depression, Accessed: November 11, 2021
- Edelstein, Bob (www.psychologytoday.com) “We Are All Worthy”, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/authentic-engagement/201111/we-are-all-worthy Accessed: November 11, 2021
Connie Pillon 