Love and Light (or Loving and Lightness?)
How do love and light combine to support us and our relationships? We'll take a closer look...
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Dear Loving Mind,
I hope this note finds you all riding the wave of love post-Valentine's Day and lighting up your hearts as we approach
the Lantern Festival.
Isn’t it fascinating how love, much like light, plays such an essential role in our lives?
When I think about both of them, I feel like I need to remind us all that love is an innate part of our being - it's who we are at the core - not just what we do. Like a constant light from the inside. Everyone is inherently lovable, simply by virtue of being “you”.
Sometimes we get a bit confused and think that we are lovable because someone else (an outside force) loves us. Or if we do something less than loving, that we don’t deserve to be loved. Lovability is just that – an ability you always have within.
I've been engrossed in a book titled "The Power of Fun" (by Catherine Price) which delves into the essence of true enjoyment as opposed to the fleeting distractions we often mistake for fun. This made me think about the nature of our expressions of love, challenging us to distinguish between the grand gestures of showy affection and its quieter counterpart of genuine, heartfelt experience.
Much like fun, love speaks uniquely to each individual; there are many love languages (and sometimes we mistakenly believe that everyone speaks the same language!) One thing that I’ve found over the years is that like any practice or habit, it takes attention – those small acts of noticing and responding that seem to add up to greater love in life.
That includes the little (loving) things you do for yourself that remind you of your inner nature of love. It could be washing your dishes before bed so you wake up to a clean sink, saying “no” when your plate is already full, really listening to someone else (or trying out their love language for a bit), or giving yourself a few minutes in the parking lot to close your eyes, check in, and resettle yourself before you transition to the next thing.
In my work with clients, I've observed that neglecting these little things can dim the bright flame of connection – either within or outside. It’s the quiet, consistent attention that kindles and sustains love.
Along these lines, light too has its own natural rhythms. It's not all about brightness. The soft glow, the gentle dusk, and even the restorative power of darkness have their places. Not unlike love, light should be held carefully and gently, like a small animal or a precious keepsake, and be allowed its natural ebb and flow. When you do, you might feel a greater lightness and an easier exchange of love.
If I may, I’d invite you to join me in acknowledging our lightness and love this month. Let’s be gentle with ourselves, understanding our own needs, and by giving uurselves that attention, we can become role models for others, beacons of inspiration. When we radiate self-love, we unknowingly illuminate paths for others, maybe even guiding them through their own moments of darkness.
This month, and always, know that you are lovable.
Take care and keep shining,
Jennifer Norris-Nielsen
P.S. I’d love to hear any thoughts or experiences you'd like to share on how love and light play out in your world. Send me a note – I’d love to hear about it!
P.P.S. If you need support in reconnecting with your inner love or light, please let me know – this is what I love to do.