ROMANCE, RELATIONSHIPS AND LOVE
How we feel about ourselves impact all key areas of our life. Romance is a key life area.
What qualities and attributes do you look for in a healthy relationship? Do you possess these qualities and attributes? What kind of relationship do you have with yourself?
The fairytale stories of romance may keep one hopelessly searching and waiting for the prince or princess to sweep you off your feet and carry you to the land of forever love. The reality is the endless search for love outside of yourself. We attract and reflect how we relate to ourselves. Love is a powerful, expansive and spiritual force. Love is expressed in heartfelt feelings and actions. True love is everlasting, unchanging and stable. It can soothe, calm and bring joy to all who are open to it. It can heal and nourish the mind, body and soul.
Early romance is that feeling of emotional excitement. It is outward display of infactuation, passion, physical attraction. It can be a spark that fizzles out over time or perhaps transition into long term love that leads to acceptance, committment and support. Love is what love does and is highlighted in the analysis of love by Henry Drummond. The nine ingredients including patience, kindness, humility, generosity, courtesy, unselfishness, guilessness, good temper and sincerity reflect the true essence of divine love. Dr. Jean Marie adopts this as the Wholistic Model of Love with these ingredients as the Recipe of Love.
Love is like a candle flame that should be nurtured, sheltered, and protected overtime. It may get dim but can be nurtured to become brighter and stronger. On the other hand, if it is fleeting romance with temporary pleasant moments, it may feel like love but true love is the foundation of wholehearted love. Relationships are mirrors for self-reflection, self-awareness and understanding.
Love at first sight is an instant deep familiarity and soul recognition from a past life. You feel drawn together like you have known each other. Destiny brought you together in this lifetime. Perhaps at the right season and chapter of your life. Soulmates do not necessarily have to be romantic partners. There is a mutual endearing and enduring love as a result of this soulful connection.
How we thinking, feeling and being with ourselves are keys to attraction. Take time to reflect on your romance and relationship encounters. Is it fleeting or stable? Is it steady and nourishing? Is it healing? Does it make you feel safe and secure? Do you feel accepted for who you are? Are the ingredients of love an integral aspect of your connection? The most important realization is to develop a healthy a healthy and loving relationship with yourself. As you love and care for yourself all that is unloving and unkind will not be acceptable.
Dr. Jean Marie shares from My Personalized Life Care Planner - Romance from her book Living in the Spirit of Love: Our Natural State of Being Reflection questions, Practical Considerations and encourages an Action Plan with feel good strategies for evaluation.
Share your insights, experiences and observations: Email jean72farish@yahoo.com
Dr. Jean Marie closes with her excerpts on Self-Romance, True Love and Self-Belonging.