What if the Beatles were right when they sang the words “All you need is love”?

How would you live each day if you believed that love was all you needed?

As a consummate hippie I loved the song and its message. It was filled with idealist hope. And the Beatles assured us in this song that is was easy.

I’d sing along with the Beatles whenever I heard it, believing in the message… all you need is love.

But my logical brain would eventually poke holes in this: how are you going to buy food, pay your bills, and have a car to drive, or have or do most anything else for that matter?

Will love do all of that for you? Will love provide all this for you?

Hmmm. Maybe not in the real world (whatever the hell that is!). Unless I hooked up with someone who was fabulously wealthy and could shower me with all that I needed. And that scenario often comes with an even higher price tag and a boatload of crap to deal with. (In case you were wondering, you cannot escape your life lessons!)

So my beautiful brain pointed out the flaw in the “all you need is love” ideal

and I began to disconnect from the message.

As a kid, I think I understood the deeper meaning of what love is and how it works.

As a teenager and into my 20s and 30s, I only connected with the surface message of what I thought love was supposed to be...

Love was romantic, soul-fulfilling, creative passion, a better-than-drugs high, a feeling that can sweep you away, inspire you and make you feel on top of the world.

And it was always, during those years, connected to something external. Another person, a dream, a thing.

What I didn’t know at the time was that I was on a journey to understanding love and learning to love and accept myself exactly as I am.

My journey included giving bits of myself away for the promise of love.

Doing things for others as a way to get them to like me.

And creating a persona so that I would seem more normal and fit in so others would accept me, rather than being afraid of me or judging me weird or worse.

Can you relate to any of this?

Many of us are on the journey back to love…

loving ourselves

rather than pursuing a fairytale version of perfect love outside of us.  

Now the older wiser me listens to the Beatles sing “All You Need is Love” and I smile. It is true, and while it may not be easy, it truly is that simple.

And yet we complicate the shit out of it.

Love, like everything else on this beautiful planet, is an inside job.

All you need is SELF love.

When you love yourself, all the other bits fall into place. You attract awesome opportunities, delightful people, and your cash flow increases.

If you resist loving yourself, your life will gladly show you where you are not giving you the love you are desperate for and may not think you are worthy or deserving of. You may interpret this as being a victim or at the mercy of life and circumstances.

Take a moment now to look at your life.

Be honest.

The truth will always set you free, even if it feels horrifically uncomfortable!

It will not kill you. It may be messy.

Quickie Life Assessment

What’s working, what’s not?

How are you feeling?

Become aware of the thoughts circling your mind. See if you catch judgments hovering about you. What are they? What do these thoughts and judgments say about you, tell you, criticize you for?

Notice how your body feels. Is it stiff, sore, achy, stressed or exhausted or energetic, relaxed, flexible and alive? Is your breathing deep or shallow, or are you holding your breath? (yeah I catch myself holding my breath at times too!)

Notice how you feel emotionally. What emotions are trying to break free to the surface? Sadness… anger… fear… depression… grief… blame… resentment… or joy… peace… happy… hope… love. 

(note: if they are trying to break free they are in the process of leaving, for goodness sake, let them leave, don't stuff them back down!!)

Notice if you feel light and expansive or heavy and constricted.

Great! Now that you have a better sense of what you are feeling and thinking, it is time to apply a heaping dose of love.

Let yourself express the emotions you are feeling.

And love yourself for feeling that way.

Love the harsh thoughts and judgments, rather than trying to fight them off or beat them into submission (that only gives them more power and energy).

See the judgements as a cry for love and understanding and acceptance and approval.

Love yourself for doing the best you could do at the time.

Love yourself exactly where you are and for who you are.

Love you.

What if everything in life

is an expression of love

or an expression of lack-of-love?

Think of love as if it were light…

When you walk into a dark room, you can turn on the light and the darkness dissolves.

If you go into a cave a flashlight can help you see your path through, cutting the darkness with a beam of light.

Love works the same way.

Send love in to illuminate and dissolve your own inner darkness (aka heavy emotions, beliefs, story, wounds and pain).

If you long to hear someone say “I love you” to you, then start by saying “I love you” to yourself today and every freaking day. I make this part of my daily routine.  Yes I do!

Chasing love always keeps it at arms distance and elusive. Accepting, expressing and being open to receiving love are what draws love to you.

You can start to allow more love in your life today.

Start by telling yourself “I love you.” Say it as many times as it takes to bring a smile to your face. If you smile or laugh, you know you got through that wall you built around your heart to keep you safe.

Love is all there is. Love is the creative force of the Universe.

Love is our natural state of being.

It’s All About Love… even when it isn’t or doesn’t appear to be.

Love. Send Love. Give love. Receive Love. Be Love.

And a fabulous first step is loving the parts of you that piss you off, that you judge, that feel broken, weird, hurt, crazy and messed up.

They just want to be loved. Love them.

I love you.

Love & Blessings,

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the different aspects of love... or lack of love. You can share in the comments area below! And if you want more on June's Love energy, you can read my post here or watch my June video here.

Share the love… if you like what you read, please like it and share it on your favorite social media sites. Thanks a bunch!

BTW… Did you know that I’m on a mission to help beautiful souls like you to learn to love and accept themselves “as is?”  If you’re struggling, stuck and lack clarity and direction, I invite you to connect with me and see if we’re an energetic fit. I help people find their way again, even if they are wandering in a Dark Night of the Soul.

I invite you to connect with me on my Facebook page too!

(some graphics elements are courtesy of Microsoft Corporation)