In love, as with everything else, we have to give that which we wish to receive. But we have to give it fearlessly and with no expectation of return, to give for the joy of giving.

When we do that, the generous and loving energy that infuses our being can’t help but draw loving experiences back to us.

And so it follows that if we’re feeling a lack of love in our lives—be it romantic or otherwise—it’s a good strategy to examine how much love we’re actually radiating out into the world. Are we being kind, compassionate and giving in our relationships with family, friends and our community?

If we see we’ve been holding back on our love-sharing, it’s time to reverse that. Because being kind, compassionate and loving towards others is enough, in itself, to restore the feeling of love within us. And when we’re feeling full of love, we see it mirrored back to us everywhere we go.

Sometimes, however, the problem isn’t our lack of giving; we may actually be giving a great deal to others. But if we’re doing it from a place of duty or a desire to be liked rather than a place of pure love—giving because we really want to—we’ll find giving to be draining rather than fulfilling.

When we find ourselves in that space, it’s helpful to take some time to give to ourselves—refill our tanks so we can contribute to the world with a genuinely loving energy.

The opposing energy of love is fear. If we’re not feeling the love, then we’re probably allowing fear to bog us down—fear of rejection, loss, being judged, being hurt or exploited, for example. Fears that we may not even be aware of are often at the root of any lack of love in our lives.

But it is normal and natural for fear to crop up from time to time. The trick is to recognize when that’s going on, instead of wondering why the hell the universe seems to have it in for us.

So when a love-drought—or any other kind of drought—hits, we need to look within. As within, so without. And then, choose love over fear by freely giving it to ourselves and to others.

If you’re not feeling the love lately, here’s a little inspiration to help shift your energy:

“If you want joy, give joy to others; if you want love, learn to give love; if you want attention and appreciation, learn to give attention and appreciation; if you want material affluence, help others to become materially affluent.” ~ Deepak Chopra

“Love grows by giving. The love we give away is the only love we keep. The only way to retain love is to give it away.” ~ Elbert Hubbard

“You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving.” ~ Amy Carmichael

“It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” ~ Mother Teresa

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” ~ Buddha

“Open up your heart, unlock the cage, turn the key and break the chains. Love will always find a way. If you want love, you have to give love away.” ~ MC Yogi

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Relephant:

Fearless Love.

How to Practice Authentic Self Care.

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Author: Hilda Carroll
Editor: Caroline Beaton
Photo: Youtube screenshot