Yes We Can: Living with an open heart and loving attitude
Friday, March 13th, 2009Recently, one of many friends from high school contacted me on Facebook. Although it’s been well over a decade since we’ve seen each other, it was exciting to reconnect. When I was writing about my life to catch her up, I told her that James and I have been together for almost 2 years. Before this relationship, my longest committed romantic relationships lasted about six months.
Today I was reading A Return to Love and I came across this quote:
“Human relationships exist to produce love. When we pollute our relationships with unloving thoughts, or destroy or abort them with unloving attitudes, we are threatening our emotional survival.” ~Marianne Williamson in A Return to Love
The thing that I was doing over and over again in my relationships was being sharply on the look out for any signs of imperfection. I used to look at friends’ partners and pick them apart in my mind. I would judge the crap out of people and prevent myself from seeing the beauty in people and from connecting with that beauty.
I have no regrets from past relationships and I am grateful that I learned countless lessons from them. I have learned how to turn judgments into compassion, surrender control of the relationship again and again to the Universe, and open my heart to what is in each moment. These are practices that come easier some days than others.
With the recent inauguration of President Barack Obama and the new administration that is taking leadership in D.C., I am reminded that I can make a difference. By refraining from fueling the energy of fear and drama and choosing hope and possibility instead, space is being created to allow miracles.
When you feel fear of loss, fear of being lonely, fear of things not going the way you want, take a deep breath. Face the fear. Acknowledge the moment and accept where you are, what you can change and what you cannot. Reach out for support, take action, even if it’s simply doing something nurturing for yourself or another.
With non-attachment to any outcome tune into hope, even for just a moment…and let love in.
