Here is a special edition of this blog's best posts on loving yourself more! ;-)

LOVING YOURSELF THROUGH GOD'S EYES

In God’s eyes, there is no judgment, there is only acceptance. In God’s eyes, there is no pain too hard to bear nor weaknesses too weak to be overcome by His insurmountable strength.

God can embrace us wholeheartedly, opening us up yet sustaining us and healing us at the same time. God sees all our potentials. God sees our light when all that we can see are our shadows.

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NEVER LET YOURSELF DOWN

Never let yourself down. Take heart, for no matter how awful the accusations against you are, you are still a child of God.

This is the time when your love for yourself will be tested. Whether you will believe what others say about you, or whether you will stand your ground because you know yourself best.

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DIET AND LOVING YOURSELF

Today I’ve noticed how our diets are greatly related to our relationship with ourselves.

For instance, imagine for a moment being in charge of the food of your loved ones. Will you be happy if your loved ones almost starve themselves to death and deprive themselves of food that they enjoy? On the other hand, would you rather that they overeat and eat foods that will make them obese and kill them later on due to high blood pressure or diabetes? Of course not!

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SHOULD I FEEL GUILTY LOVING MYSELF?

It’s only the second day of my challenge to love myself more and I’m already feeling a bit guilty.

I’ve made quite a few purchases, expenses spent to pamper myself. In the evening, I’ve also continued applying a moisturizing lotion to my face. I wasn’t used to doing that before.

Now back to the “guilty” part. I wonder if we also feel guilty when we are being pampered or showered with gifts from our loved ones. Should we feel guilty?

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SEPARATING OUR MISTAKES FROM OUR SELF-IMAGE

When we make blunders, we feel we’re failures. When we have broken relationships, we feel we are broken too and worthless.

However, if we truly desire to improve our relationship with ourselves, we must learn to practice acknowledging our errors without eroding our overall belief in our worth.

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WHAT DO I LOVE ABOUT ME?

During this time of reflection, I’ve learned that I not only lacked love for myself. I’ve learned a shocking truth – that I’ve hated myself all these years. That was the reason I’ve found it easier to love other people. Because they were not as unlovable as me. But if I were to start out as a person apart from my current self, how do I become a friend to this person? What are the things I would appreciate in her? What do I love about me?

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If we truly wish to love,
to give generously and sincerely,
we must ensure that
we are holding out
our overflowing cups.

Not our half-empty ones
waiting to be filled.

How do I love myself? How do I learn to love myself more?

1.BE KIND TO YOURSELF

One of my good friends told me that everyday, we have upon us the responsibility to make at least one person happy, even if it means being that person ourselves.

It may have been such a long time since you have thought about yourself. You’ve thought of too many things about others, but have forgotten the things that bring about your own happiness.

Discover them again.

List them down and read them over until your heart could remember once more.

Following are some of the things I enjoy:

1.Coffee
2.Chocolate
3.Early mornings, a lovely sunrise
4.Books
5.Music
6.Fried chicken
7.A drizzle
8.Computer games
9.Movies
10.Musicales, concerts
11.Paintings
12.Taking pictures of beautiful sceneries and simple folks
13.Taking a walk
14.Time with family and friends
15.Traveling

Now it’s time for your own list.

Things you enjoy:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

2. KNOW YOURSELF!

Being kind to ourselves
and doing the things
we enjoy
helps us discover
the person we truly are;
the person we may have
never known until now!

I urge you to know
who you really are;
in your eyes,
in your heart.

Know thyself,
especially your strengths.

Know that which is
beautiful.

Know that which is
loveable.

Know that which has made you
the unique and wonderful
person that you are!

You are not the good-for-nothing person you thought you were. In fact, you’re not that bad at all. You want to do good things! It’s just that we may have been afraid of ourselves for so long; we’ve been afraid to look at the mirror for fear of seeing some monster we do not wish to be.

My friend, would you kindly do something for yourself? Take a good look at the mirror today and see the beautiful one you have ignored for so long.

3. HELP YOURSELF GROW

Once you have discovered
who you really are,
you can start
the exciting journey
of growth
towards your
infinite potentials.

We should not be content
merely knowing who we are,
but always strive to be
the person we could still become!

Dream,

Seize your dreams,

Then dream again!

Only in flowing
can the river
remain to be a river.

Only in growing
can life prevail
over death!

SOARING HIGHER

Why should I be afraid to fly?
And why should I be afraid to try?
I was born to meet the sky;
I was born to meet the sky and fly!

I may fall once,
I may fall twice,
I may fall so many times,
But I will not fall always!
I will try again and again and fly!

Spread your wings now,
Get ready!
Let go of your fears
as you leave the ground.
Be prepared now, steady.
You’re getting better,
You’re flying faster,
You’re soaring higher up the sky!

List down the things
you’ve always wanted to do.

List down the things
you’ve always wanted to learn.

List down the places
you’ve always wanted to go to.

List down your dreams,
however big or small.

List down the kind of person
you’ve always wanted to be.

Go ahead.

a.Enroll in that photography class.

You are never too old to learn new things.

b.Make that hairdo change.

Surprise everyone (including yourself), with that cool change.

c.Climb that mountain.

Experience the physical and mental struggles along the way and bask in the glory of reaching the top after all that you’ve been through!

4. KNOW YOUR PURPOSE

It is not enough
that a man eats,
and drinks,
and sleeps.

It is not enough
that he breathes,
and that his heart
continues to beat.

Unless and until he knows his purpose,
he is not a man at all.

Spend time
away from the noise
and anxieties of the world;
away from the demands
and expectations of the crowd.

Listen to your inner self.
Hear the innermost desires of your heart.
Discover the task for which you were most equipped to do.

Know your purpose.

Do not be afraid to make mistakes.

And do not give up even if you fail many times.

Your mistakes will only bring you closer to the discovery of your true purpose – the role which only YOU can perform!

5. ACCEPT AND FORGIVE YOURSELF.

As much as we must learn to forgive others, so too, should we learn to forgive ourselves.
As much as we should learn about our strengths, so too, should we learn and accept our limitations.

The problem with us is that we often attribute every tiny bit of problem to ourselves.

In our obsession to be in control of everything, we consequently believe that anything that ever goes wrong is our fault.

Accept your faults.

Do everything you can to correct them.

But learn also that not everything is your fault. Learn that you cannot correct the things, which are beyond your control.

Stop trying to carry the burden of the world upon your shoulder.

Carry only your own cross.

That is all that is asked of you.

My friend, feel that you are loved,
not only by others, but first and foremost,
feel that you are loved
by your very self!

Starting this moment, can you promise yourself that you will be your own bestfriend? ?;-)

© Jocelyn Soriano for I Take Off The MASK!, 2010. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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My friend,
you are dearly loved.
Even when you don’t feel it
sometimes;
Even when people fail to tell you
just how much you mean to
them;
Even when people don’t express it
the way you want them to.

How do you know you are loved? Below are some of the things worth exploring:

1. GET A HUG

Nothing can compare to the warmth
generated by a hug.
No person feels as secure, as
intimate, as needed, as loved, as
someone being hugged.
At times I forget the nicest things said
about me, but I cannot forget those
times I have been hugged.
For surely, it brushes away our fears
and turns our tears into waterfalls of
grace.
Don’t be ashamed to ask for it from
those whom you know has great
concern for you.
Oftentimes, people really want to give
it away, but are just afraid to offer it.
Such people would be more than
willing to give to you that loving
embrace if only you will ask.
So why not ask?

A sweet smile,
a warm embrace,
a hand to hold;
small things,
precious things,
joyful moments,
for the one who receives,
and the one who lovingly gives the

2. GIVE OTHERS THE CHANCE TO CARE FOR YOU.

We are so wrapped up
in our independence,
in our pride,
in our self-sufficiency.
We have built a wall around us
to protect ourselves from pain.
But in doing so,
we have starved ourselves
from the love and concern
of those who truly care for us.
The wall we have built
has kept us from
receiving the attention and care
for which our inner selves
have long been screaming for.

Let others care for you.
Ask help when you need it,
and gratefully accept help given you.

Ask your mother to cook your favorite
recipe.
Ask your friends to come over for a
pajama party.
Ask your officemates to help you for a
work you find too difficult to do.
Ask your churchmates to pray for you.
Ask the kids to help you with the
house chores.
Ask your husband for that kiss you’ve
been missing for so long.
Ask and admit your needs.
Ask and it shall be given you!

3. FORGIVE; DON’T EXPECT PEOPLE TO BE PERFECT.

In order to feel loved,
we must learn the value of
forgiveness.
Remember that no matter how deeply
people may care for us, there will be
times when the very people who love
us would be the same people who
would let us down.
But even that does not change
the fact that we are loved.
Mistakes, weaknesses and momentary
hurts must not waste a lifetime of
caring and sincere devotion for one
another.

There is so much
to love
in each other,
but we are so often blinded
by little moons,
which eclipse
the entire SUNS
of our beings!

Life is not perfect,
but that does not mean
we can never find happiness.
Life is difficult,
but that does not mean
it can never be beautiful!
My friend, do something
for yourself and
for the people who love you:
Believe that you are loved!
TRUST.
Have faith!
Cling on to this truth and fight for it!

It may have been easier
had we only understood
why people failed us,
why people hurt us,
why people acted in ways
we never expected them to.
It may have been easier,
but there are some things
we just couldn’t do.

We cannot peek into their hearts
to see how much sorrow
they are trying to bear.
We cannot sink into their thoughts
to know what struggles
they are going through.
We cannot demand that
they explain themselves to us
and do what we want them to do.
We can only be a bit kinder
than we are supposed to be.
We can only be a bit braver
than we think we ought to be.
In times when we cannot understand,
may we learn to trust.
May we learn to be still
and have faith.

Only those who are strong
can truly love fully.
Strive to be strong.
Forgive when others are weak.

4. NOURISH YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

Everything that is of great worth
should be properly cared for.
Plants left untended wither;
Houses left abandoned end in ruin;
Copper left unpolished tarnish;
Friendships left unattended die.
If anything is of much value,
spend time and effort
to care for it.
And nothing is of greater importance
than our bond
with the people we love.

Though we are important to people,
we should also let these people know
how important they are in our lives.
Only in giving do we truly receive.
Only in loving can we ensure
to keep the channels of
intimacy and affection open.
Express the love you have within you.
Let its joy overflow!
For what is love if we cannot share its
warmth with someone else?

It is useless
to tell your brother
how much
God loves him,
unless
you are willing
to extend your hands,
and be
the manifestation
of the love
you are talking about!

Take time to call your mother
every now and then.
Write a letter to a friend
you have not heard from in
years.
Treat your partner to dinner
and reminisce the old days.
Schedule an outdoor activity for
people you don’t see everyday.
Hold a class reunion after 20 years.

Nourish your relationships.
Spend time while it is yours to give.
What you intend to do
need not be costly.
It need not even require a whole day
from you.
You can choose to spend your minute
in full and undivided attention
for someone
in order to reap a blessing
that will last for a lifetime.

We take care of our clothes,
We take care of our car,
We take care of our muscles,
We take care of our garden,
We take care of our dogs,
We take care of our hair,
We take care of our jobs,
We take care of our shoes,
We take care of our computers,
We even take care of our nails.
Shouldn’t we also take care
of our relationships?

5. UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT PERSONS,
AS WELL AS DIFFERENT SEASONS

People are different.
What is true to us
may not be true to some.
What is trash to many
may be a treasure to few.
Who can therefore judge another?
Not one has lived a day
within a body other than his
own!

How do we know then whether
we are loved or not?
Through the words people say?
Some people are just not good
with words.
Through the hugs we receive?
Some people are just not
touch persons.
Through the gifts given us?
Some people just don’t know
what gifts to buy.
(Some people just don’t have
the money!)
How do we know then?

My friend,
sometimes we just know it!

At other times,
we don’t even know…

I used to think my father doesn’t love me. And I grew up believing there is nothing I can ever do to please him. While other kids would happily play games with their dads, I couldn’t even hug mine.

Until this day, I couldn’t remember a single moment that I ever saw him smile at me. He was just a strict father. A breadwinner. The man who wouldn’t even let me out of the house to play with other kids.

That was all I knew, at least, until he died. Until his wake where his officemates told me just how proud he
was of me. The man who wouldn’t even talk to me has talked much about me! Proudly!

Later, I also learned that even his over protectiveness was a sign of his deep concern for me. Growing up
without getting the kind of attention he yearned from his parents, his strictness was after all, a sign of his
great love for me. I didn’t know it. I didn’t know how much I was loved!

Each one is unique.
Each has his own way of
expressing the love
he holds within himself.
In the same way,
each season is distinct.
And the same people who love us
will not always love us
in the same way.

There will be seasons of spring.
Such is the yearning of every heart
that loves.
A season of affection
pouring down like showers
in springtime.
A season of intimacy and
intense attachment
with each other.
It is the season of lovebirds,
Of young love budding out of
nowhere,
Of friends taking sudden interest
in each other’s lives,
Of mothers and babies enjoying
moments of quiet embrace.
Such is spring.
Such is the season to be savored
and saved, to be cherrished
and lived as though
it would never come to an end.

There will be seasons of summer.
Of adventures and events
which leave us
both breathless and thankful,
both tired and excited with the ride.
Enjoy your summer.
Enjoy the many activities,
which shall strengthen your
bond.

Yet in all these,
there shall also be
autumn and winter.
There shall be moments of silence,
and there shall be moments of biting
cold.
How we desire to forego such
seasons.
How we yearn to go back in
summertime,
and how we miss the magic of spring!
Yet even in such moments,
even in such seasons,
we can find that we are loved.

There will be times of
misunderstanding.
There will be times of pain.
A time when we have all the right to
doubt the love we thought was there.
Indeed, there will be times of biting
winter winds.
Yet even the pangs of winter
cannot kill the roots, which
have deeply established itself.
We have only to dig within,
to discover,
to remember,
to know that we are loved.

Your child has disobeyed you and went after the man she chose. Yet it doesn’t mean your child does not cry secretly in sorrow of disappointing you.

Your father has not approved of the career you desire and insisted his own plans instead. Yet it doesn’t mean he sleeps soundly at night and does not yearn to take back the decision he made for you.

Your friend did not accept the apology you made and acted as though she could never accept you again. Yet it doesn’t mean she doesn’t miss you and desire your company once more.

Life does not
disappear
in winter.
Love does not
disappear
as well.
It is embedded
in the innermost part
of our being.
It is deeply rooted
and shall rise again
in spring.

In autumn, when we cannot foresee
spring as clearly as we can in winter,
we have with us the harvest of
summer and spring to see us through.
All the work has been done.
Memories have been made.
We wish it could remain forever
in ways we have been used to,
but another season opens…
Change comes,
and we must yield.

The kids have grown up and now have affairs of their own.
Friends have married, and we terribly miss the adventures shared with them.
Neighbors have gone abroad, and we suddenly have no one to share our secret recipe with.
Lifetime partners have passed away, and we have no idea how to fill the void they have left
in our lives.

Autumn comes and takes away
that, which we hold so dear.
Autumn comes and we are called
to let go once more.
In certain ways,
we let go of a child who has grown up,
we let go of a friend who seeks a new
path in life,
we let go of a loved one who has gone
before us in the next life.
Yet even death does not and cannot
take away the love you have shared
at one point in your life.
TREASURE IT!
It is forever yours!

I remember the great love of my grandparents for one another. For fifty years, they were able to show the world that love can indeed stand the tests of time, that affection for one another need not pass away with age, and that the greatest legacy we can ever leave is love freely and unselfishly given.

I was blessed indeed to be a witness to that love for a few years that I have lived before my grandfather
died. And the day he died, my heart was broken. Not only because I would miss my grandfather. Not only
because I grieve for my grandmother. But more so because I couldn’t bear to witness the end of such a love.

Through the years however, I’ve learned how I have greatly underestimated the extent and depth of that love, how I have misjudged it; for in truth, it never really came to an end the day my grandfather died.

To this very day, I am still a witness how my grandmother is able to treasure the love they have shared. I
am still a witness how love is kept alive in the hearts and minds of those who carry on the radiance of its
warmth.

Autumn can take away many things,
but not the love we have
freely given away.

Each season brings
a new challenge.
But no season
can hinder us
from knowing we are loved.

6. LEARN TO REACH OUT

Not many of us are blessed with a
family who has always been there for
us.
Not many of us have loads of friends
whom we can count on to see us
through the darkest and loneliest of
days.
But few of us
could ever complain
that we have not been given
any opportunity to reach out
and care for people
within our reach.

We need not look far to find lonely
people.
We need not walk long to brighten
someone else’s day.
We need only to open
our eyes and see.
We need only to open
our hands and reach out.

How many people do you meet
everyday?
Whether you are working at a
business district, a wet market, a
school, a shop, a construction area, a
store, or even at home, there are
always people within your reach.

And sometimes,
all we need
is a smile
to bring a little warmth
in another person’s day.

There might be that grouchy man you always bump into at rush hour.
There might be a little kid asking for a piece of bread.
There might be a boss who just couldn’t open up his heart.
There might be a widower longing for a little chat.
There might be an old aunt yearning for a bit of attention all these years.
There might be an employee feeling a bit left out.
There might be a mother terribly missing her daughter.
There might be a daughter terribly missing her Mom.
There might be a stranger needing a little help.
There might be a neighbor waiting for a smile.
There might be a friend hoping for a chat over a cup of coffee.
There might be a heart longing for another heart.

You may claim to be lonely,
but there are people lonelier than you
are!
You may claim to be poor,
yet you did not take into
account
how much you can still
give away…

Mere surfing over the internet could
give you a pretty good idea how many
lonely people are out there: people
working in a foreign land, people with
disabilities and debilitating diseases
that keep them from going out and
meeting new friends, people who have
been hurt and abandoned by those
they cared for the most.
You could be a light to them.
Your messages can be the warm
hand of a friend they have been
longing for.

Wherever you are,
there will always be people
you can touch.
And the briefness of the encounter
need not hinder us from making a
lasting difference by sharing whatever
small thing we can give

Go ahead!
Touch.
Reach out.
Do random acts of kindness
and don’t expect
anything in return!

But if in any chance
you do get something back;
if in any chance, you realize
you have made another
person happy;
and then you finally realize
that you are loved,
that would be a miracle
we should all be thankful for!

When you realize
you are loved,
could there be any logical reason
you should not love yourself
as much as others have
cared for you?

© Jocelyn Soriano for I Take Off The MASK!, 2010. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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To Love Is Difficult, Why Desire It?

"Difficult as it is, love is wonderful, and it is worth all the troubles other people may try to warn you about. Living a full life, risking to lose something wonderful. To love is indeed the one purpose a person desires to live his life for. Life always chooses to be born, to be experienced, and to be aware of the beautiful path we walk upon each day."

continue reading...

What If I'm Afraid To Love?

"Love, they say, is the complete opposite of fear. That thought worries me at times, because I cannot say that I’m that brave enough already to love. There are certain fears that still reside in my heart. But then again, when true love comes, it will certainly come as a mighty river, casting away all fears,making its way straight unto my heart! What is there to worry about when perfect love casts away all fears?"

continue reading...

They Can Never Understand

"They can never understand
how two hearts can speak
without uttering a single word,
how two minds can understand,
without explaining a single thought.

Only LOVE speaks,
Only LOVE hears,
Only LOVE
can ever truly understand."

continue reading...

How Do You Recognize True Love?

"True love does not run away.
True love does not lose faith.
True love does not retreat
with the slightest discomfort.
True love endures.
True love heals.
True love overcomes all darkness
and all hopelessness.
You will never doubt true love when you see it.
You will just know.
You will BELIEVE."

continue reading...

Forget Not Love

"Forget not love.
Forget it not.
Thou shall forget everything
but let not love depart.
Love is your life’s meaning.
It is the bringer of light.
With love,
no day is lost,
no moment is meaningless.
Love remembers
Love shall remain in you
and you in love."

continue reading...

It Is Not Enough to Love

"It isn’t enough that a man should live
For a man must love;
It isn’t enough that a man should love
For a man should love fully
and be able to bear
both the pain
and the highest joys
of his love."

continue reading...

Will You Still Love Me Even If I'm Not Perfect?

"If you will love me I cannot promise you that I will not hurt you. I cannot promise you that I will not make you cry and that I’ll never break your heart. But if you will love me, I will bare my whole self naked before you, and I will reveal to you my soul. If you will love me, you can be certain that it is I that you will love, not a mask that fools you and gives you only what your eyes desire to see. If you will love me, you can be certain that you will love the depths of me, all of me that is in me, and I in turn will love you with all of me, with all my soul, with all my mind, with all my spirit, with all my flaws and beauty, and with all my very heart."

continue reading...

On The Nature of Love

"You lose yourself into love
but then you are never truly lost

You find oneness with the one you love
but in the process learn to discover yourself more

You are strengthened in love
You are defined in love

You can never be a better you apart from love
For only love unites in such a way
as to make the beautiful even more beautiful
and to make each lover stronger and purer than he or she could ever be alone."

continue reading...

Love Is Not Blind

"there is someone
who understands you,
who sees you
even more than you can see yourself

his eyes are like clear mirrors
reflecting to you
the you he loves and sees

and though you are afraid at first,
your fears are vanquished
and you are able to see through his eyes
what you were afraid to see

love is not blind after all
for love sees more
love sees what no other sees"

continue reading...

Madly in Love?

"...the truth is
we have just begun to see
and that we have never been
of a more sound mind
the truth is
we have caught a glimpse
of God’s power
of the power of love
and with that power
all the Universe is ours
fear is no more
there is only LOVE."

continue reading...

You Are Loved

"You are loved
focus on that
breathe on that
live on that
move in that
daily
from one moment to the next
in your waking hours
in your dreams
in your imaginings
until no barrier exists
between yourself
and your lover
between God
and His beloved
until nothing can ever separate you
from the Love that lives forever
and transcends all things
all places
and all possibilities
You are loved
that is all that matters"

continue reading...

Loving Broken People

"We cannot exempt ourselves from the world
while we are in the world,
and while we are in it
it is our lot to love broken men.
Yet how can we do it
when we are ourselves are broken,
and need to be assured
that we are loved
that we are accepted
for being the broken people that we are."

continue reading...

Should you ever have a Broken Heart, my book "30 Days to Heal a Broken Heart" , will answer your deepest questions and guide you thru 30 days of healing just when you're hurting and you feel like no one really understands: Why am I hurting so much? What's wrong with me? Could I ever have him back again? Whatever happened to love? Should you end a relationship even if you still love each other? Can I ever be happy again? Must I forgive him? How did we end up hurting each other so much? Why couldn't he try harder like me? I don't know if I could ever forget him. Is there anyone who could ever love me? Why do I always seem to fall for the wrong person? Why is he not suffering as much as I am right now? What if he suddenly comes back to me? But he could be the one! Read more...

© Jocelyn Soriano for I Take Off The MASK!, 2010. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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1. Whispering sweet nothings into her ear.

2. Massaging her tired feet.

3. Painting her portrait.

4. Gently caressing her cheek.

5. Playing her a song.

6. Composing her a song.

7. Making her a poem.

8. Holding her hand.

9. Kissing her forehead.

10. Offering your hand when she gets off the car.

11. Saying, "You're wonderful, do you know that?"

12. Saying, "I missed you, please stay by my side."

13. Washing the dishes.

14. Cooking for dinner.

15. Taking care of the kids so she could go out with her friends.

16. Buying her a book she'll love.

17. Taking her out to eat at her favorite place.

18. Massaging her hand.

19. Lending your shoulder when she feels sleepy.

20. Carrying her when she's too tired to walk.

21. Saying, "You've made me into a different person."

22. Saying, "Thanks for believing in me."

23. Praising a meal she cooked.

24. Not making her worry.

25. Never making her wait.

26. Not complaining when she makes you wait sometimes.

27. Being honest.

28. Being responsible.

29. Treating her friends well.

30. Treating her family as your very own.

31. Buying her non-fat ice cream.

32. Buying her movie tickets for the latest romantic film.

33. Listening to her woes without trying to be Mr. Know-It-All.

34. Not holding the tv remote all the time.

35. Taking care of her when she's sick.

36. Saying, "You're one of a kind."

37. Accompanying her when she likes to go shopping.

38. Helping her clean the house.

39. Making a mix-cd of her favorite songs.

40. Giving her the dog she's always wanted to have.

41. Stargazing with her at the backyard.

42. Travelling somewhere you've never been.

43. Saying, "You smell wonderful!"

44. Asking, "What did I do to deserve this happiness?"

45. Framing her favorite photo.

46. Making her laugh.

47. Brewing her favorite cup of coffee.

48. Just being there when she feels sad or moody.

49. Being dependable, being trustworthy.

50. Being her own bestfriend and more!

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51. Saying, "Hey, thanks for being here."

52. Taking his hand in trust when he offers it.

53. Smiling, being happy in his company. :-)

54. Buying him a toycar he's collecting.

55. Not minding when he's late.

56. Not barging in when he feels like being alone.

57. Receiving delightfully his embrace.

58. Rejoicing over his gifts!

59. Not blaming him when things go wrong.

60. Preparing him breakfast.

61. Eating the breakfast he cooked.

62. Watching the sports channel with him.

63. Cheering him at his tennis match.

64. Resting your head upon his shoulder.

65. Letting him carry you and literally sweep you off your feet!

66. Saying, "It's okay now that you're here."

67. Massaging his aching head when he's had a bad day.

68. Being appreciative.

69. Getting to know his friends.

70. Loving his family.

71. Kissing his cheek when he least expects it.

72. Letting him take care of you when you're not well.

73. Saying, "You can do it!"

74. Saying, "I've always believed you could!"

75. Keeping your cool when he couldn't find his way.

76. Keeping your silence when so many things are rushing in his head.

77. Giving him your trust.

78. Giving him your faith.

79. Being the same woman he feel in love with.

80. Being the same friend who supported him all along.

81. Believing in his strength when he couldn't.

82. Seeing his gifts and talents when all he could see are his flaws.

83. Kissing him some more.

84. Laughing at his jokes.

85. Not laughing at his blunders.

86. Buying him a new shirt.

87. Buying him a new tie.

88. Researching and cooking his favorite recipe.

89. Surprising him with a new gadget!

90. Surprising him with a new book.

91. Singing to him a song you composed.

92. Dancing with him even if he says he doesn't know how to dance.

93. Exploring a new place with him.

94. Playing a sport you didn't know.

95. Being as beautiful as you are.

96. Being the angel he adores.

97. Being open.

98. Being pure and true.

99. Staying beside him no matter what.

100. Telling him you've always loved him and you always will - NO MATTER WHAT!

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Do you love your job? Does your job love you back?

I've realized that it isn't enough that we earn money from our jobs. I've also realized that having a job is like having a relationship with your boyfriend. When it doesn't work out anymore, you have to cut it off!

There was a time when I was able to enjoy my job, or at least, the perks that came with it. I've enjoyed the fact that I was able to travel for free. I was able to go to beautiful exotic places and discover things I've never known before. I was also able to enjoy the company of my good friends who also happen to be my officemates.

As time went on however, things changed. Many people went away. I wasn't able to travel anymore. And the job that seemed to be like a haven is now more like a prison trapping me from doing the things I'd really love to do.

I've realized that I didn't love my job at all! It wasn't the job I loved, it was everything else that came along with it. It's the same with having a relationship with a person. There are many times when we think we are “in love” with the person, but the truth is we may just be in love with the idea. We may love the car he has or the free dinners he gives in fine dining restaurants, we may even love his parents or his friends, but stripped of everything else, do we really love the person?

It's not that I didn't do anything to save my relationship with my job. I did try my best to love it, to seek ways with which to connect with it and to align my soul with its purpose. But like a person who doesn't really care, the job didn't allow me to be truly connected with it. It ignored me, my talents, my passion, my efforts. Sure it provided me things, as with husbands who provide material things to their wives. But it is not these things that truly matter, you see.

I've realized that after doing one's best, there is a time to surrender and to let go. Sure it hurts, but it will hurt the more the longer you pretend nothing's wrong.

A very vital part of loving oneself is not to agree with anyone or anything that is treating you unfairly. You deserve to be treated well. You deserve to be loved, and you deserve to have a job that can love you back!

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What have I done?

Why did I forget the fire of love that burned upon my heart?

Why did I listen to the world that knew nothing about true love?

Quench not love when you find it.

Recognize it for what it's really worth,

and not according to what others say.

My greatest moments of love

are those moments

I did not even expect,

when I was moved to tears

by a love

that seeketh

and findeth

me.

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Image by Thai Jasmine via Flickr

Having the Spirit of Love within you is an indescribable thing. For one, you know that Someone is always there with you, working in ways you do not know.

In the past I've always had a hard time training myself to think of positive thoughts, avoid worries and control my emotions. But no matter how hard I try, I always fail.

Yet with the Sacred Spirit, things happen beyond all human effort. Even during times when I should have been most bitter and miserable, I have peace and joy which no one can take away from me!

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Post tags: having the spirit of love, love, power of the spirit, spirit, spirit of god

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