Love is Food for the Soul

I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the support of my family and friends I have had over the years. It is often easy to forget the importance of LOVE in our ability to heal and feel worthy.

I believe it is a feeling of unworthiness that led me to a pre-diabetic state 15 years ago. Since then, I have learned to LOVE myself unconditionally. The results of this self-LOVE can be felt throughout my entire being from the tips of my toes to the crown of my head. It is a constant vibration of energy that gives purpose to my days and fills me with joy.

I know many of you know what I’m talking about because we are connected. How do I know we are connected? As you read these reflections, you are becoming part of my energy as I become a part of yours. Can you feel it?

We are all connected to one another. It is this inter-connectedness that allows us to thrive if we are mindful of it.

With today’s go-go-go lifestyles, we often miss what is right in front of us. We fail to connect with someone who loves us, and so has the power to become a beacon of light, illuminating the path for us to learn how to love ourselves.

Isn’t self-love a little egotistical?

Self-love is not the same as vanity. It’s not about checking to make sure you look fantastic every time you look in a mirror. It’s not about driving the nicest car.

Self love is an energy. It fills you with gratitude and lifts you up, away from the television, off the couch and towards living a vibrant life. A little TV once in a while isn’t so bad, but if you use television to help you forget your day, it’s easy to miss the beauty all around you.

Do you feel the LOVE you are surrounded by right now? Do you LOVE yourself?

For 35 years I did not feel this love.

I spent most of my days wondering, why do bad things always happen to me?

These were just a few of the daily thoughts that were dragging me down, keeping me from feeling the LOVE that was always around me.

We have become a society ripped apart from the very fabric that keeps us alive and thriving. What keeps us alive and thriving? I believe PURPOSE through LOVE is the core essence of why we are here and how we thrive.

When we interact on social platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, we feed our basic human instinct for connection that gives us our ability to survive and thrive. The power of communication. The power of community. These are at the heart of what makes these social platforms succeed. They make you feel wanted. They make you feel connected.

They make you feel LOVED.

Do you get caught up in thoughts like these? I know I do. It is amazing how fast social media has woven itself into the fabric of our daily lives.

Social media platforms often mask the essence of what we are truly seeking.

Sure, there is a quick hit of LOVE when you get a ‘Like’ or share a few words over a funny picture, but there is also a desire for this FEELING to continue. For many of us, the only way to make the feeling continue is to constantly check in on our statuses and followers, check our email — or just watch TV to forget all about it.

So, what to do?

Over the years I have discovered several action steps that assist in improving ones ability to allow self-love to guide the way to living a life of purpose. Many of these I outlined in my book The Power of Food.

The action step I would like to share with you today is one I have not talked about yet, the power of friendship. For its ability to fill us with LOVE and heal our every ailment, both physically and mentally, friendship is essential to living a life of health and happiness.

ACTION STEP: Get Connected!

In the next 24 hours;

1. Connect with someone you haven’t talked to in a while, if ever. Maybe it’s the person working away at the cubicle next to you, the classmate sitting beside you on your lunch break, your buddy giving you a high five while watching the Sunday football game or your neighbour mowing the lawn next door. Trust that the first person that comes to your mind is the exact person you should connect with and be mindful of the love you are bringing to the conversation.

2. Reach out. Open up. Strike up a real world conversation. They may very well be bearing a priceless gift — the power to shine a light on the energy that is all around you — LOVE!

3. Share your story. I would love to hear your story of friendship and how it has guided you to living through love. Feel free to share it below to inspire others.

And if you were wondering about the picture at the start of the post, on the left is my amazing mother and next to me is my beautiful grandmother. Can you feel the love in the picture? Powerful stuff!