This is pretty heavy stuff for the middle of summer. But, given this summer – it’s apropos. All of us are dealing with some form of separation or another this year. It may be the illusion of separation from our bodies in physical pain, on-going illness or dis-ease. It may be separation from our mental bodies as: mental fatigue, sleep disorders or even Alzheimer’s. Emotions are at an alarming high. Look at the violence and levels of medication intake. It may be separation from soul… There is a huge rise in the number of Spiritual centers and churches, both traditional and non-traditional. Our pain and discomfort are driving us to seek answers and healing. Awareness is creeping up on us.

Underneath all of the medications, avoidance behaviors, self-sabotage and years of ignorance is a very basic desire to feel Love; to be truly connected to self and Self. Is there a way to do this without so much pain and trauma? Yes. Yes. YES. I am not going to tell you that it is always easy become and stay conscious. Though it does get easier with practice. And, most times there is even instant gratification, our favorite. Still, it is a practice that we will be involved in for the rest of our lives. Not to trivialize this, but think of it like showering or brushing your teeth; it is something that doesn’t take long, must be done on a daily basis to maintain good health, and makes you feel better and stronger every time you do it.

This is the practice of actually letting the Love in. We know that Love is all around us. The problem is not lack of Love. Love is in the beauty of nature. Love is delivered though a compliment and a hug. It is carried on the voices of song. It is in the nuzzling of an animal. Love comes from the smile of a stranger and the kindness of another. (Love is delivered in the first sip of my morning coffee.) Every moment of our lives is filled with Love!

It is that we have centuries, might I even suggest millennia, of practice in resisting the one thing that we want and need the most – receiving Love. We have been socialized to give it away…and not take it in. We diminish the compliment, do not acknowledge the praise, close our eyes the beauty of the world, hold our breath, eat without awareness or gratitude, and a myriad of behaviors that take us out of relationship with Love.

When was the last time you praised yourself for a job well done? Or really felt the Love and appreciation coming through that hug or gift? Or took a moment to breathe in the scent of flowers on the breeze? Or smiled back at that stranger without fear, perhaps even smiled first at the stranger? Or laughed out loud? The foundational question, when was the last time you felt Love in your whole self?

The goal, of course, is to feel Love in every moment of every day. Some of us have become so adept at building the walls against Love that we might only allow ourselves to consciously feel Love once a week, if we are really paying attention. What a shame. Look at all the Love that is just hanging around waiting to be felt. Loneliness is winning right now. It is time to change the score.

How? Lots of ways. Start with simple things. Smile at the stranger for no apparent reason. Walk more slowly and smell the air for the sweetness of nature. Let the car in that is trying to merge. Laugh at your own silliness. Breathe in the compliment and feel better for it. Stop and appreciate the good things of your day. When we take in the “little Loves,” we are much more likely to recognize “big Love” when it comes our way. Just for fun, here are some statements that can really take your experience up a notch or two! Start with affirming Love:

And last and most importantly, given that like attracts like (Universal law):

See what happens! See how your perceptions change. Your day may be just as challenging though your experience of everything may be quite different. You may end your day with more energy and more peace. So many things transform when we allow ourselves to be connected to self and Self. Magic happens when we live in Love.