Every February, we get the sweet reminder to celebrate and remember love. With all of the commercialized hype that goes along with Valentine’s Day it is easy to lose sight of the true meaning and importance of love. It is something so basic and fundamental that we often take it for granted or forget about its immense power. Love is more than an emotion, it is an action that is at the foundation of many behaviors, including compassion, commitment, reflection, intuition, inclusiveness, forgiveness, kindness and care.
“Love is the only human emotion that consistently generates the most productive and intelligent actions” – Humberto Maturana, Chilean Biologist
Our equine partners have an amazing ability to help us connect with love on a variety of levels – not only in the depth of love we feel for them, but the ways in which leading with love energetically shifts our capacity to be present, enhances our leadership, reduces fear, and makes us better partners, lovers, parents, colleagues, etc.
Below are 5 simple reasons to let LOVE rule:
#1 – LOVE is influential.Great leaders give us something that transcends the everyday ordinary and the practical -they engage us on a deeper, emotional level. They speak to our best self and make us want to give of that self. Great leaders use LOVE as their motivation to lead and they incorporate the many facets of love – including compassion, patience, empathy and self-love – into their actions.
When we truly engage with LOVE we are transformed.
#2 – LOVE leads to CLARITY. Connecting to love helps us clarify and understand our most true intentions – what we really want in life, why we’re here, and who we are. When we recognize these intentions, we can understand each other better and connect with our compassion and empathy. And, we can communicate more clearly.
Horses want and need clear communication. Through interaction with them, we are able to see where we lack clarity and how we end up sending mixed, confusing messages as a result. Marla’s* story about working with our big bay gelding “Jim” (named after her husband) is a perfect example of bringing love and clarity together. Read it here.
When we resonate from the root of love that lies within us fear dissipates and things get clearer.
#3 – LOVE banishes FEAR. Fear pops up at times of discomfort, usually when faced with an unknown, a feeling of uncertainty and the potential for something to go “wrong”. Love creates a feeling of SAFETY. When love is present, we become focused on the positive feelings of care and support and the feelings of uncertainty that cause fear begin to dissolve.
#4 – LOVE amplifies our CONFIDENCE. When we tap into LOVE, we remember what really matters. We shift the focus from surface worries and insecurities to a greater, deeper emotion. Love connects us with a selfless compassion that strengthens our purpose. Strength of purpose enables us to act in a confident manner because we are focusing our attention and energy on the reason for our actions as opposed to ourselves. Love aligns us with our greater purpose, gives us focus and direction.
#5 – LOVE UNITES US. Love is the universal language. We all feel it, we all know it and we all need it. When we recognize this truth about each other, that we are the same when it comes to love, it helps us to realize the many commonalities that we have with one another. The mere concept of our shared capacity for love itself unifies us and connects us on a deeper level. When we love each other an even stronger layer of connection is created. Our capacity for love is our common ground. Our love for each other is what ultimately sustains and generates our lives.
These are just a few ways that connecting to the energy of LOVE enriches our lives. There are countless more. Give it a try, allow the LOVE within you to flow freely and see what benefits you gain!
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