I can think of many times when I haven’t been able to feel love for someone. Recently, I was in a grocery store, and one of the customers was acting crazy. He was howling at the ceiling, rolling his eyes upward, showing only the whites of his eyes. When I went to the dining section of the store and sat down to eat, he was at the counter, staring at me. Cold shivering feelings overcame me, and I fought the urge to leave abruptly.
Sometimes, I’ll be in a room with someone disrespectful, and I feel disdain.
When someone acts entitled or absorbs energy rather than contributing anything,
I feel resentful.
These are a few examples of moments when I feel anything but loving toward my fellow humans.
It seems impossible to love people we don’t even like. Negative feelings block any sense of caring or warmth. Still, it’s during those moments that we can transcend our natural reactions and experience genuine personal growth.
When I asked myself why the crazy-acting man scared me, I thought he was possessed. When I realized he was either on drugs or some other kind of demon had taken hold of him, I reaffirmed my impenetrable spiritual light, and compassion dissolved my fear.
When someone is disrespectful, I can choose to be offended or remember that I’ve experienced similar days. I don’t have to take it personally, and I can even feel understanding of their unfortunate state of mind.
For those who come across as entitled or non-contributing and trigger me, I remember the times I’ve been selfish and self-seeking without regard for how someone unconditionally gave to me. Or maybe I feel guilty when I don’t appease them, instead of recognizing that healthy boundaries are best for everyone involved.
No matter the causes, when I recognize my own flaws, I free myself from the negativity governing me.
We don’t have to like everyone or their behavior, but we can learn to love mankind unconditionally. Loving others doesn’t mean we have to force relationships or even hang out at all. It simply means that we heal the things that separate us and remain peaceful. Otherwise, we risk hating one another, and then we are truly doomed to societal failure.
Separation leads to division, and since there are always things to dislike, the divisiveness ultimately destroys any sense of unity. ‘Us against them’ turns into ‘me against you,’ which can only result in a process of elimination.
Love thy neighbor as thyself is wise advice – it multiplies instead of dividing. Loving someone doesn’t mean we must agree with them or like everything about them. If something blocks our sense of love toward another person, we can look inward and face our own internal flaws. When we remove the obstacles that prevent us from loving others, we clear those blockages, allowing us to experience powerful feelings of love for ourselves and all.
JOIN OUR MOVEMENT TO SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES FROM ADDICTION.
Donna Marks is an educator, licensed psychotherapist, and addictions counselor in Palm Beach, Florida. She has worked with over 6,000 clients. Donna’s struggle with addiction brought her to a worldwide search for healing. She became licensed as a Mental Health Counselor in 1987. In 1989, she earned a Doctorate Degree in Adult Education, then became Certified in Addictions, Gestalt Therapy, Psychoanalysis, Hypnosis, and Sex Therapy. Donna developed an award-winning addiction training program at Palm Beach Community College. She co-owns an outpatient treatment program and serves as a consultant to treatment centers. For 36 years, she has taught A Course in Miracles.
Donna is the author of three books: the multi-award-winning title Exit the Maze: One Addiction, One Cause, One Cure, and Learn, Grow, Forgive: A Path to Spiritual Success, The Healing Moment: Seven Paths to Turn Messes into Miracles of Love, and her latest fiction, Fortis & Sapiente – A Tale of Two Lovers Who Successfully Navigate the Murky Waters of Love. Donna is a public speaker and has shared her methods with millions of listeners on podcasts and radio shows.
Sign up for the mailing list
You will receive the latest articles, meditation tracks, inspirational content and much more
