Love and Relationship - A Reverent Path to Peace

LOVE: The experience of a blissful and highly gratifying feeling that elicits a deepndesire and enthusiasm to live one’s life to the fullest.

In the dawning of morning light
In the sound of wind through the trees
An ocean wave laps upon the shorenand the sparkle in your eyes reminds me of
My reason for being…
At one with the essence of the universe

Feeling love motivates one to express /share this feeling with another (personally ornthrough some creative expression e.g. art, music career etc.) and when Love is sharednthere are some common characteristics that people express with each other:
Reverence, Respect, Fun, Compassion, Affection, Inspiration, Truth, Clarity, Harmony
Trust, Centered, One ness Unity with the divine….add your ow

The two polar opposites that negate love or take us away from that feeling of being at thencenter of the universe are extremes of:

Constriction and Expansio

Confinement and Abandonment
Hot and Cold
Etc and Etc.
Yin and Yang

At times when Love seems missing from our life we are feeling the above extremes—anseparation from LOVE.

Remind yourself of a heated relationship conflict you have experienced in the past-— thencommon denominator in almost every dispute is; someone is feeling abandoned (cravingnconnection) and the other is feeling confined (wants space). The distance between peoplenis often proportional to the quantity and volume of the words said out loud or spoken innour heads.

When people are feeling closely connected…whispers, smiles and the language of ourneyes or hands are all that is necessary.
IF it hurts it’s not Love:
Hurt is associated with the two antonyms of LOVE—Hate* and Fear*
If you Love someone and they leave you and it hurts then you are feeling somethingnother than love- If you love someone you want them to be happy even if it means he/shenis leaving you…. AND ….nobody leaves you and you cannot leave anybody.
LOVE or Lack of it is always Mutual.
Enough Love brings and keeps people together
When there is a predominance of Love people stay together
Lack of enough love sends people apart
When there is a predominance of Fear people move apart

Sally says she tried everything to keep the relationship going but Sam was numb to hisnfeelings and showed no effort- “He just picked up and left one day. Sam left me and itnhurts.”

Sam may have appeared to be the one to leave. BUT there are both conscious and subnconscious attitudes and behaviors that are contributed by both partners, which ultimatelyndisintegrated the amount of love that is necessary to sustain a loving relationship. Therenare no victims of love. Both partners participate in coming together and in breaking apart.
Every event happens be cause of choices we make to bring us to where we are.
While it may be easier to blame someone for why we are here today, it is wiser to takenresponse ability for our contribution to the situation.
It takes TWO to Tango and it takes Two to Not.
Both partners contribute to the Love or lack of Love for both themselvesnand the relationship.

Paul says he knows Sarah is his soulmate. He is deeply in love with her and trusts thatnone day she will feel the same. He sends her poems, food, flowers and there is no othe
woman he cares for. Sarah says: “I love you Paul, just not in that way. We can benfriends.”

Reality: Neither of them wants to be together in a lasting loving partnership. Paul is notnin love with Sarah – He is in love with the deep desire he feels. When he gets to a placenwhere he loves himself more deeply, his desire will attract someone who shares what itntakes to accumulate enough complementary chi to co-create an intimate lovingnpartnership.

Fear is often brought out in our relationships as a reminder of what we truly value.
If one fears abandonment or confinement in a relationship, there are two healthy options:

1) Resolve the fear, which brings people closer and is the reason why it comes up innthe first place—to bring people closer together

2) Accept that the fear is a signal to Love in a different way.
It takes one person to love AND it takes two people who love themselves to be in anlasting loving relationship.

Each person can express love and that love can influence the other perso

Instead of changing someone’s behavior, by changing our response and attitude to thenother’s behavior, we bring love to the relationship.
E.g.

John is too tired to take out the garbage after 10 pm. Mary is afraid to do it and getsnupset that it sits all night in the kitchen. Instead of changing John, Mary looks within andnresolves in herself that nothing will happen to her and starts taking out the garbage….
John sees this and for some uncanny reason decides that if Mary can do it so can he…nand they both end up taking the turns with garbage removal.
Forget the shoulds, the judgments, I am right? Who is wrong?
Leave out the primal separation of ego and listen.. en joy the resulting sweet song

If you ask people to write a list of what they would like to improve their relationship, younwill see wishes like: I wish my partner would communicate more with me or I wish mynpartner would be neater… and any number of requests that try to change the other.
I wish the _______ (the other person) would ________(fill in the wish)
Basing our love and happiness on the behavior of an other disempowers our personal pathnto feeling and expressing self - love and is a sure step to sabotaging our relationship.
Remember:No one can change an other perso

Everything we want an other to do is a reflection of something insidenourselves that desires attention and improvement

Instead of needing and trying to get Richard to communicate to others without sarcasticncriticism, Jane can find that place in herself that accepts Richard’s communication style.
After all, she knows he really means no harm by it. She can also recognize that avoidingnsarcastic criticism reflects an aspect of herself that she is trying to be better at. As long asnit is one of Janes’s issues, she will continue to be bothered by it. And the easiest way tonfeel the shift is for Jane to *GENUINELY change her reaction to Richard’s style by notntaking it personally and to focus on her own desire to communicate differently.
Make a list of things you would like your partner to do, accept your partner for beingnhim/herself and be more conscious of changing those qualities in your self.
You may be surprised how the shift of being in you own needs takes the focus offnneeding something from your partner and paradoxically influences your partner to alsonshare in making changes. We can also without accusation or expectation, *GENUINELYnrequest or simply give our partner a heads up of the change.
“Richard, I would really enjoy having less sarcasm around the house. Would you be intonthat too? OR

“Richard, I would really enjoy having less sarcasm around the house.
I’m going to cool my use of it.
Sally, does that mean you expect me to nicer (spoken sarcastically)?
Honey I love you the way you are. This is a choice I’m making for myself and I simplynwant you to know how I feel.

The breadth of our love is measured by our health condition.
Oxygenation, circulation, blood sugar regulation and the gamut of other healthnchallenges one can be attracted to, all determine our health condition that attracts andncreates a complementary relationship to learn and feel the lessons of love with.
Lisa’s sensitivity to being pressured (confinement issues) that seem to come up whennshe’s tired is a sure set up for her to be in a relationship that brings up this issue. She willnattract someone who pushes her buttons. The better she becomes at stabilizing her energynlevel, the more adaptable and focused she can be on more important issues in hernrelationship—and she is no longer a victim of men who pressure her.
Gratitude for Life measures the vitality our health condition.

How often do you thank your lucky stars for being alive? How often do you complainnabout the circumstances you have attracted? How often do you express appreciation fornthe people around you? Are you cynical about life? Do you criticize or blame others?
When we are healthy in body/mind/spirit we view the world and all its relationships as anperfect opportunity for emotional and spiritual growth. Negativity is a sure sign of ancompromised health condition and a threat to the safety of any relationship.
Success in relationship is proportional to each partner’snattitude of gratitude/grace ful attitude
How often do you and your partner express (verbally or through actions)

“Thank-You”
The vitality of our health is directly proportionalnto the vitality of the relationship we attract and create.
The healthier we are, the more adaptable we will be to the many challenges ofnrelationship and the greater will our ability to stay together be.
Love wanes when the overall love/health of the relationship wanes.
If one or both persons’ love/health lacks vitality it can affect the relationship AND
All challenges arise because the relationship has what it takes to heal/love and getnback to vitality.

ADVICE: If one or both people in the relationship are tired or hurting, wait …. sleep onnit. Exercise, meditate…become clear. Get back to vitality before making major decisions.
All challenges will bring up the two healthy options:
1) Resolving the fear of conflict brings partners closer and is usually the reasonnwhy fear comes up in the first place—to bring people closer together. Ourndifferences bring us closer as long as we have the vitality to adapt andnresolve…to come up with creative out of the box solutions that satisfy eachnpartner 100%…(and enjoy the reward of make-up sex but more importantlynto feel a new depth of connection that surpasses our imagination)
Breathe…. feel the impulses that make us want to run—nbehind this intensity echoes the sacred sound of divine silence
Stay with it –where is it in your body, breathe…circulate
Let this physical sensation fuel your vitality…claritynthe miracle of understanding surfacesnbehind that mask of darkness comes the light of Lovensee the solution…shining, radiatingnbrighter than we ever knew possible…and it is warm…soft..home at last)
2) Accept that the fear is a signal to Love in a different way.
When the fear is based in a truth that would dishonor one’s integrity and ultimatelyncause harm to your soul, it’s time to change the relationship to one that is morendistant. This kind of fear represents a circumstance with effects that are too extremenfor one to bear and still remain healthy. Love can still exist in gratitude to the jou
eynso far and the relationship, will from this point on look and feel different than whatnyou might have originally thought.

Can Your Relationship Withstand the Test of Time? The 4 C’snConnection-

Do you feel an intangible yet compelling attraction to the other person? Asidenfrom physical attraction, lust or magnetic desire, that are important, a connectionnalso manifests as consistent (daily) pervasive thoughts and feelings about the othe
person and the resulting important relationship you share. These thoughts andnfeelings evoke support, desire and the inspiration to live life to the fullest.
Simply: Is the strength of your relationship greater than the sum of you
strength as individuals?

Compatibility- Do you share a life dream? Do you have similar opinions on hownto walk your life path, Do you share laughter and passion? Do you have ways tondeal with your differences i.e. Are you reasonably comfortable with you
"uncomfort abilities"? Are you compatible on the most important things,nespecially how you deal with the troublesome incompatibilities?
Simply: Do you like and love your partner?

Communication-Do you communicate respect and acceptance to your partne
regularly and avoid rude and defensive communication as much as possible? Thenbest communication tip is to avoid conveying anything that is over-flavored withnsuperiority, over-control, judgment, insensitivity, dishonest strategy, rudeness ornnegativity. We quite simply react poorly to these attitudes and they causenseparation instead of unity.

“words spoken in anger, instead of resolving differencesnonly create new ones”- Oksana

Another good tip is to make sure resentments are spoken instead of hidden or theynwill fester and chip away at any good commitment/ foundation of a relationship.
The object is to talk about the resentments assertively without blaming orncomplaining.

Simply: Does your communication with your partner help you know you
inner self better and are you grateful for the vulnerability you experience innyour partner’s presence?

Commitment: Aside from addiction, adultery and abuse are you both committed/ndevoted to resolving any and all challenges together? (And that is a yes or nonquestion).

Do you trust each other’s words to be consistent with actions? Do youninstinctively consider your partner’s needs when making decisions?
Simply: Can you depend on your partner. Can you trust your partner to carenfor you as much as him/her self?

To score 100% on these 4 relationship qualities deserves a monument in thenSmithsonian….. and the bottom line is that the sum of all our conscious and subconsciousnbehaviors and attitudes will result in unity or separation.
Addiction: a state of dependence that harms /has a damaging effect.
We require emotional fuel- Emotions are like food –Without feelings we will die.
Relationships are the source of our feelings because other people reflect qualities in ournselves that nourish or deplete our souls.
So we have the choice of being nourished through, healthy clean and vital relationshipsnthat eventually lead to enlightenment or through junky, toxic experiences that lead us tonsoul suffering.

Again, it is our health condition or the desire to change our health condition thatndetermines the quality of our relationships.
Toxic relationships are mostly motivated by fear and pain and rarely stand the test ofntime.

When making decisions for our self and for the relationship, ask,nwhich choice will bring vital health?

Does working 60 hrs a week improve or harm the relationship? Does sarcasm or ridiculenbring vitality or burn out? What effect will kindness and compassion have on you
relationship?

Is my decision motivated by Fear or Love?

If it is by fear, how can that fear point out what you value and be turned into inspiration?
If the decision is motivated by love a lasting relationship (of some kind) will result.

Subconscious Health
Many of our life patterns that lead to pain and fear are the result of subconscious patternsnetched into the foundation (genetic karmic, social, cultural) of our body mind spirit thatnmotivate us to sabotage our conscious wishes for healthy relationships.
BIG question —How do we alter or transform patterns that we are in the dark about?
Again it all comes back to our health condition.

All health problems are caused by living a life predominated by too many extremes.
High on alcohol or drugs-> hangover Burnout
Excess activity-> fatigue, pains
Too little sleep-> neurological disorders
Too many saturated fats-> heart attack
Confined-> Abandoned
Contracted->Expanded
Too yang-> Too yi

Lets look at how we can affect our subconscious mind through moderating ournlifestyle— creating a BALANCE that nourishes our health conditio

Physical Recommendations:
Sleep-Are you creating extremes in your sleeping patterns? Do you get enough sleep andndo you sleep deeply? What can you do balance your sleep and activity levels?
Sleep is the time reserved for our subconscious mind to work out the “stuff” that keeps usnfrom feeling our natural vital state. Avoid eating before sleep, clear your bedroom space,nand impregnate your mind with affirmations and prayers before sleep. Conceive you
supreme destiny. E.G: (can be done as you are falling asleep)

With every breath I feel the Universal Life Force entering my body. I breathe and feelnevery cell of my body being nourished and cleansed. I empty my mind of thoughts- Asnthoughts come I breathe them away and instead focus on these words:
The power of healthy change lies within me and I am energized by all that is around me
My sub conscious self continues to move my body mind spirit to make decisions andnactions that empower me by improving my health… vital health of body mind spirit
With every breath I am becoming healthie

My sub conscious self continues to move my body mind spirit to make decisions andnactions that empower me by improving my health… vital health of body mind spirit
With every breath I am becoming healthier

Breath- O2 is our no 1 life essential nutrient and Co2 is our no 1 toxic metabolic by -nproduct. Efficient breathing nourishes and cleanses our blood. Extreme ups and downs innour breathing patterns also affects the heart rate, blood pressure and are the root ofntension, mood swings and anxiety. Slowing our breath through quiet deep diaphragmicnbreathing improves the condition of our lungs. When our lungs are clear our brain is clea
and instead of anal lies ing, creative solutions intuitively surface. Exercise and spendnmore time in nature away from polluted cities. Got a relationship problem? Gonsomewhere where the air is clean, feel the earth under your feet, jump in the lake, walk innthe trees, eat a meal made over a fire and you will be surprised at the clarity younexperience. Internal energy exercises like yoga, tai chi and chi kung clear the brain andnstrengthen the internal body as well as the outer framework.

Food- Extreme eating patterns are the next factor in creating vital health. Do you eatnenough vegetables? How often do you eat junk food? sugar? Choosing organicnwholesome foods over junk food that tax the body will allow us to use our energy fornmaking healthy decisions instead of eliminating chemicals hormones and antibiotics.
Better yet, grow your own food in a garden or planters on your balcony- planting seedsnyourself and taking care of your own foods permeates the plants with a complementarynenergy customized to heal your body.

Emotional Recommendations
How is your emotional balance? Do you experience extreme highs and lows in you
moods? Learn to feel before you react in a way you will regret. When someone pushesnyour buttons… Listen to where you feel this emotion. Instead of chasing it away bynjudging arguing, crying for pity, pleasing others, having a drink etc..take 5-15seconds tonfeel the sensation. Use the breath to empty yourself of thoughts and use the feeling fornhealing. You will find that this slowing down and fueling yourself with the physicalnsensations found in your feelings will stop you from reacting in ways that damage you
relationship.

This method will help you to respect yourself and everyone you come in contact with.
When in doubt choose peace.

Spiritual Recommendations
Are you spiritually balanced? Do you have a sense of spiritual direction that younexperience regularly?

When making a decision ask, does this choice move me closer to my dream in life ornsend me back a few steps. Cultivate your intuition instead of your logical brain becausenover anal lies ing your choices keeps you stuck in the past .

Emptying the brain through daily meditation/sitting quietly makes room for genuinentruths-(truths that further your consciousness and health) to surface.

Relationships are the root of our social condition on planet earth. The reverence we feelnwithin and express outwardly in our personal and family relationships overflows, to bringnpeace to the planet.

Breathe…Feel…. and be love.

Notes:
*Hatred is an emotion of intense revulsion, distaste, or antipathy for a person, thing, or phenomenon,ngenerally attributed to a desire to avoid, restrict, remove, or destroy the hated object -Wilkipedian*Fear is a repulsive feeling of apprehension or distress caused by the presence or anticipation of danger.
Fear always pertains to something that has yet to happen. It is a feeling that holds us back based on thenmemory of a past dangerous experience that we anticipate may happen in the future.
In the presence of actual danger people often report a feeling of surrender –a place where fear disappears.
Fear exists in the present moment when we anticipate something that has yet to and may never happen atnall, or will never happen exactly as we are making it up to be. I.E. Fear is usually something imaginary,
AND if we consistently commit many moments/nows to the eventual happening, then it may eventuallynhappen.

GENUINELY means we really ask or make comments from a place in ourselves that is free of hiddennagendas. If manipulation or judgment is there our partner will feel it making more trouble than wenimagined.