Love is the most potent energy there is. It has the power to dispel hate and cast out fear. Love has the power to create joy, happiness and peace. As a collective energy, it is the language of love that has the power to change the world. I want my children to grow up in a world where they feel free to be themselves. I imagine a world full of compassion and tolerance, where the oneness of humankind is celebrated as opposed to our differences highlighted. In short, I want my children to grow up in a world that is overflowing with love. If we are ever to reach this goal—if we are to truly change the world—our only hope lies in teaching our children the power of love.
Imparting the wisdom of love seems like a lofty goal. It could be argued that we aren’t doing so well. More than ever, humankind faces threats of violence and demonstrations of anger and unhappiness abound. We live in a time when it is commonplace to wonder, where is the love? We crave it and so do our children. Not feeling loved leads humans to feel disconnected, disillusioned and ultimately unhappy. So how can we undo the cycle of despair and fill our children with love?
“How do you spell ‘love’?” asked Piglet
“You don’t spell it. You feel it.” replied Pooh [A.A. Milne, Winnie The Pooh]
Firstly, it must be understood that love cannot be taught in a traditional sense. No amount of discussion about the topic will ever adequately convey its power. I think of love as a force that talks directly to our souls. It bypasses our minds and speaks to our hearts. As a result, love can only truly be understood by witnessing it and feeling it. It must be experienced to be understood. If we hope to see more light in the world, as guardians of the next-generation, it is our responsibility to step-up and show them examples of love.
It is only through witnessing love and being loved that our children will understand its power, and in turn be able to share their own loving energy with the world.
So how can we ensure our children witness and experience love? Here is a list of four simple concepts to keep in mind. Make these a part of your lifestyle and the children in your life will most certainly understand love.
1. Love yourself
Children learn through watching. Regardless of what you say, children see what you do. Love is no exception. Children will learn to love themselves [a vital prerequisite to their future health and happiness] through watching you honour and love yourself. Children are perceptive and they notice how you act and talk to yourself. Ensuring you show up with love and respect for yourself should be a priority as it will set an essential positive example for your children.
2. Demonstrate your love for your children
It doesn’t matter whether you are a parent, a teacher or an aunt—there are appropriate ways to demonstrate your love for the children in your life. Regardless of the relationship, ensure that you make time to be truly present with the children in your life. Let these little wonders know that they are special, unique and worthy. Put your cell-phones down and turn your TV sets off; give them your full, undivided attention. Ensure they feel seen and honoured as the precious little human beings they are. Be gentle with them. Pick them up softly. When dressing them, do so with as much presence and care as you can. Gentleness conveys the language of love. If you are a parent, be sure to show your children plenty of physical displays of love. Pick them up, cuddle them, kiss them, tickle them. Children will understand the feelings of love by you showing them what loving actions look and feel like.
3. Demonstrate your love for the world
Let children witness you demonstrating your love for the world and greater humankind. Be charitable and generous. Give your time or whatever you can to those in need, and let your children witness your caring nature. They will live up to the standards you set and those standards will become their norm. Encourage your children to be charitable along with you. It may be that they choose to donate old toys. Including your kids, in, for example, an elementary school fundraiser program in your local community is a priceless experience. You will all have fun and socialize while raising vital funds for a cause.
Alternatively, you could demonstrate your love for our precious earth by spending an afternoon picking up rubbish together. Teach them the power of thinking and caring about others and our world.
4. Choose loving language
I believe words are all powerful. How we speak to ourselves, colours how we see the world. Words continually fill our minds and are the basis for what we create in our reality. Fill your children’s world with empowering words. Tell them they are loved. Tell them they are beautiful, smart and they light up the world. Share kind, loving words often and freely. This will help to ensure that their self-talk will be positive. If they are full of positivity and love they will go on to reflect this energy into the world like a glowing light.
The more our children understand love through having witnessed and experienced it, the greater the likelihood they will be filled with love they can share. If we follow the above suggestions they will have a much better chance of growing up knowing love. It is the energy that our communities, countries and the world need in order to heal. Love is the energy that will create a thriving future for humankind. An abundance of hate, individualism and fear hasn’t worked. Our future lies in love, and that starts with the very important task of teaching our children its power.
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