The only way to know for sure, Dear One, what love really is, is to experience it for yourself. It is not something that you can learn, that you can come to truly understand from a book, a song, a movie, a poem, or a class.

And the best way to do that, to have a truly authentic experience of love, is to love yourself, purely, totally, completely, and unconditionally. That means  thinking, speaking, and acting lovingly towards yourself, all the time.

Do that, know that experience, give yourself the experience of knowing what unconditional love looks, feels, sounds, smells, and tastes like, and you will never again have to ask yourself or anyone else the question ‘Is this love?’, because you will know.

You will then know from firsthand experience what true love feels like, so you will be able to recognize if what you are feeling for them is love, and Dear One, you will know how to recognize if they are truly loving you in return.

Forgive them for their mistakes, Dear One, their shortcomings, their faults, their ignorance, and their impatience.

Forgive their actions when they react out of fear, their words when they respond from pain, their behaviors when they get defensive, and their callousness when they are cruel.

They are not perfect. They are deeply flawed. They are hurting, healing, learning, and coping the best way that they know how. Believe it or not, they are actually doing the very best that they believe that they are capable of.

They are imperfect, Dear One – just like you.

Forgive them without expectation, without condition, without question and without hesitation.

Why?

Because doing so is one of the most powerful healing gifts that you can give to yourself.

• You are blessed, even when you are struggling
• You are divine, even when you fail
• You are a beautiful, even when your body is tired, your eyes are dark, and your skin is sallow
• You are precious, even when you are poor
• You are loved, even when feel unworthy

The truth is, Dear One, that you are who you are; blessed, divine, beautiful, precious, and loved, and there is absolutely nothing that you or anyone else could ever do that is ever going to change that.

Make all of your decisions today, Dear One, as if there was someone standing beside you, holding your hand, encouraging you, supporting you, loving you, adoring you, believing in you, cheering you on every step of the way.

Why?

Because there is.

You have no idea just how big of a support system you’ve got working for you behind the scenes.

Please remember to use them.

Avoidance or Creation.

Which path are you going to choose to take today, Dear One?

Are you going to make this day about doing your best to avoid that which you do not want to see, hear, feel, or experience, or about creating that which you do?

Choose wisely because these two paths extend out in opposite directions from one another, and will most definitely not lead you to the same place.

Every minute of every day we are speaking to you, encouraging you, guiding you towards that which you are wanting for yourself, Dear One.   To tap in to, receive, understand this guidance it might be helpful for you to understand why we do this.  It is not to tell you what to do, dictate your choices or create your future.  That is something only you can do, and we would never take away the gift of choice and discovery from you.

• We are not concerned with the color of your shirt but want you to feel empowered by the clothing that you wear.
• We will not encourage you to love one person above another, but will encourage that which will help you to know and experience true love in your heart with another soul that is as open to it as much as or even more so than you are.
• We are not so concerned about what career/work you choose to do, but want you to know that how you spend your time and energy and how you choose to be of service to those around you does matter. We will guide you towards finding fulfillment in your work and encourage you/lead you towards that which will bring you greater enjoyment, meaning and authentic connection to others using the gifts/talents that you have.

We will encourage that which will expand your boundaries and your experience of the world – that which you will bring you the greatest joy while you are doing it.  Whether you are painting pictures, changing light bulbs or teaching children how to read – what you do is of less importance to us than how you feel while you are doing it.

You are contributing to the creation of your world all of the time – with every choice, thought and action that you take.   We want you to remember to enjoy yourself while you are doing it – to help you create from a place of joy, contentment and optimism.  Doing so is not only beneficial to you, Dear One, but to all of those that share this world with you.

Unfortunately, Dear One, avoidance is not going to help you to relieve your anxiety.

Neither is confrontation, bravery, denial, will-power, brute strength, comradery, or perseverance.

The only thing that is going to do it, that is going to bring you relief for any sustainable length of time is trust, is learning how to trust yourself again.

And how, you might ask, are you suppose to do that?

The same way that you learn how to do anything else.

You practice.

You are a creator, Dear One.

You have come here to create, not to simply react or comply.

It’s important for you to remember that today.

When your behaviors are no longer serving you, Dear One, when they stop yielding the desired results, when your actions are no longer in alignment with your thoughts, feelings, and desires – don’t start doubting yourself, your choices, your abilities, or your judgment.

Don’t get angry, frustrated, or hopeless.

Don’t start looking for something or someone to blame.

Instead, try remembering that life is constantly changing, and so are you.

If the beliefs, routines, rituals, patterns, and behaviors that brought you comfort, security, health, relief, and joy yesterday, do not do so today, there may be nothing to blame.

It may simply be time to change them.