Unconditional Love: What It Means And How To Get There

To those of us working on becoming better human beings, words only give us clues as to what is going on within us. Take the word “love”, for instance. When someone uses the word love, to what are they referring? Is it the hugging, kissing kind of emotional love? Is it erotic love? Is it the love of mankind and all creation? How do you frame the experience of love in your being? Is love a feeling or an emotion, or a set of behaviors?

I propose that you consider unconditional love to be a state of being. Not a transitory, fleeting state but one that can become enduring. I also suggest that achieving this state is highly desirable and attainable. Once you achieve this state on a regular basis, your life will be transformed.  You will start attracting people, objects and circumstances into your life that are pleasing to you. More importantly, you will begin to have a much more positive effect on the world around you.

Below are listed some of the attributes of a state of unconditional love:

• Unconditional love flows out from you as an act of grace. It does not ask for or expect anything in return.

• You are not the originator of unconditional love; it flows directly from universal source energy. God is at the root.

• You bounce back quickly from adversity. You see the adversity as a part of a much bigger picture of divine intention.

• You learn to forgive and release resentments. This part sometimes requires work and patience with yourself, but it is well rewarded.

• You unconditionally love yourself as well as others. In order to be free enough to give unconditional love, you must first love and forgive yourself completely.

• You become aware of and learn to release fear and other limiting beliefs that you have. These limiting beliefs can be conscious, but many times are unconscious.

Achieving a continual state of unconditional love is not like achieving typical worldly goals. There is often no recognition of your achievement by others. There are no ceremonies, certificates, celebrations or bonuses upon completion of a certain level. But the state of unconditional love brings the reward of perpetual happiness which is far more enduring than any worldly reward.

How can we reside in a state of unconditional love when we have worldly duties to preoccupy us? None of the great saints had to deal with traffic jams, parent-teacher meetings or the IRS. What they did have, however, was the ability to project an inner state of unconditional love onto the outer world. You too, through practice, can acquire this ability.

Below are several ways to enhance your ability to remain in a state of unconditional love:

Daily Meditation Practice

The first item is the daily practice of some form of Meditation Techniques. It should be a form of meditation that will quiet the mind and let you get in touch with your inner self. Basic meditations where you focus on your breathing or a sacred word or mantra are perfect. Guided meditations work well for some of us.  At least twenty minutes daily is recommended. Meditation breaks up the hard crust of your perceived outer reality and allows the truth of who you are to shine through.

Contemplation Practice

Contemplation is taking meditation out into the world. Start by finding brief opportunities to re-center yourself. Notice your breath at a long red traffic light and smile inside. Do the same while your computer is rebooting or loading slowly. Take a quiet nature walk where you do nothing but notice the beauty of the natural surroundings. Meditation is wonderful, but contemplation takes your presence to a new level.

Look Critically at Your Limiting Beliefs

First, take a look at some of your repeating life patterns that have not played out the way you wanted them to. These patterns may manifest themselves in your relationships, your health, or your finances. Next, ask yourself the question, “What limiting beliefs would I have to have in order to manifest these patterns?” The limiting beliefs can be conscious, or unconscious. A sample list of limiting beliefs is below:

• I’m not worthy or deserving.
• I’m not good enough.
• I can’t win.
• I’m too young/old.
• It takes money to make money.
• My health is genetically based; I can’t help it.

This list is by no means complete; it just contains some common limiting beliefs. Realizing your limiting beliefs may be immediate or may take time.

Surrendering to the Divine

Finally, you will want to get into the habit of surrendering to the divine. Surrender your obsessive desires, negative feelings and limiting beliefs to a higher power. This activity is the real power behind the success of the twelve step programs. However, you don’t need to be facing an addiction in order to use it. Simply state internally or out loud that you are turning your particular issue over to a higher power, whatever you call that higher power. Then take some time to let go of the issue. Sometimes the letting go is immediate, other times it will have to play out.

I highly recommend a book by the late Dr. David Hawkins entitled, ‘Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender’ if you want to use this technique to the fullest.

Have fun with this…

The key is to have fun with all this. Don’t be too serious. Watch in wonder and amazement as your life changes for the better.

Main image credit: pixabay.com