There exists a love beyond the farthest reaches of our imagination. A love that soaks in its glory all the mountains and all the valleys and all the animals like a brilliant sun casting its perfect rays onto the earth. A love that flows in every river, stream, and ocean, and runs through the veins of both your body and mine. A love that cannot be fished in or extracted but only realized. A love so strong that when it becomes at last understood, there can be nothing else. A love that is inexclusive, unconditional, and eternal. It is a perfect principle, an indestructible truth.
Spiritual teachers refer to this love as universal Law, Source, the overarching force in this world to which we are all connected and all a part of. The realization of this love—along with other truths, such as that the ego is the cause of all suffering—is called enlightenment, the highest spiritual breakthrough that one can experience.
Very few have seen this love—Very few have become enlightened. However, enlightenment is not some ever-elusive goal that only Buddha and his followers have been able to attain. The possibility for spiritual enlightenment is present in all of us. As humans, we are part of the Whole, and therefore always have access to what has been described as a higher level of consciousness.
But I am not here to talk about enlightenment. I’m here to talk about love—the kind of love that spiritual enlightenment allows us to understand. It is the kind of love that holds no desire; the kind of love that does not judge; a love that is full and unrestricted; and, most importantly, a love that many yearn and wish for, but never seem to find. Here, I am not speaking of relational love, in which one craves the presence of another in order to be happy.
Boundless Love
I am speaking of the boundless love that grants one access to a realm in which all life is respected, and nothing other than the simple fact of being alive is required for contentment. With this love, one can be happy, satisfied, fulfilled, and at peace, no matter their circumstances. In fact, when one realizes this love, these are the only things that they can be.
This kind of love is rarely spoken of, and it is most definitely not taught to us. Instead, we are taught how to be fearful, spiteful, and selfish, not only in school but at home, and at the workplace, too. Most of us are taught from the beginning that we are never enough, and this notion becomes ingrained in us to the point where everything becomes internalized and so that we harbor little self-worth. We are told that material things are of utmost valuable and that success—an arbitrary ideal—is the greatest achievement. Fulfillment is found outside ourselves, we think. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
An all-encompassing spiritual love that knows no bounds can not be found, because it is nowhere other than exactly where you are right now. It can not be found because it is everywhere, and it is everything.
We believe that we must do something or do many things before we can be worthy. We think that we must meet some standard, usually one that is impossible to achieve. In reality, you cannot become worthy, because you already are worthy. This is the truth of love: That you and I and every being on this planet are loveable for no other reason than the simple fact that we are. We are loveable because we are loveable, and that is that.
You are Love
Ask yourself, what is it about you that makes you think you are so unloveable? Is it your thoughts? Your feelings? Your looks? Your demeanour? Is it your past? Your mistakes? Your failures? Why do you consider these to be such universal “dealbreakers”? (And I don’t mean in terms of dating.) Every time that we experience a negative thought and believe it, we are falling victim to a learned false mind pattern. We suffer because we judge ourselves negatively, and sometimes we suffer because we want to—when it has become a habit. The truth is, your being loveable and fulfilled has nothing to do with what others think, or even what you think. Your worth is independent of all opinion and all emotion. You have been blessed with a perfect love and abundant worth, in spite of everything that exists externally.
There is nothing that you have ever done and nothing you could ever do that would make you unloveable. Every single one of us is connected to each other and to the greater whole, and never for a moment do we lose our connection. You are perfectly whole and infinitely worthy, and absolutely nothing can change that.
Understand that you are not your past. You are not your mistakes. There is no need to feel guilt about them now. You did the best you could at the time. How could you possibly have done anything else? You could not be more deserving of this cosmic love. In a sense, it was created for you. Or, conversely, it could be said that you were created out of it. Regardless, every being and every non-being in the universe are unmistakably tied to this love.
You might think that there are limits to this, that not everyone can be deserving of such a thing. But even the seemingly worst people are doing only what they can, and their lives do not ever leave the scope of the universal love that envelops all that exists. And, from a state in which you understand this love, you will be overcome no longer by the desire to condemn anyone or anything. In this place, there is no judgement—only peace, and a radical acceptance of all that is.
Love is the ultimate truth
Nothing is good nor bad. Everything, if you ask the modern spiritual teacher, Eckhart Tolle, “is as it is.” All suffering is resistance against what is. Stop resisting what is and let yourself flourish fully, knowing deep within that you are, by the power and presence of the universe, perfect exactly the way you are.
Too many of us know the feelings of inadequacy, the pain of uncontrollable self-condemnation, the grief and misery that pervades our lives and leaves us feeling empty. Guilt and shame are a widespread disease. Within so many people lies a dreadful pit that eats at them from the inside.
We must cast these pits from ourselves and rid our minds and bodies of pity, negativity, and hate. We must view our flaws and blemishes not as faults but as expressions of universal precision. Just try, try to see that every muscle, every bone, every cell in your body was created with absolute attention and utmost carefulness. This is the love that I speak of. It is a love that transcends the self and the body and sails into the Beyond; it is a love free from judgment; a love that operates completely on patience and compassion. This love is found both within and without, before and after, in both good and bad, in life and death. It is eternally pulsating. It is a love that understands the true nature of things.
Realize this love, this state, and you will have no option but to recognize that there is nothing you must do or become in order to be worthy. You will know with certainty that you already are. Attempt to deeply fathom this love, and your sorrows and anxieties will vanish. For how can you worry when you comprehend your true, abiding nature? Stop aimlessly searching for this love, and become the love. Focus on being: Being present, being grateful, being kind. Practice patience and compassion with everyone who’s path you cross, including your own. Come into this love, and you will know peace.
As Deepak Chopra said, “Love is not a sentiment. Love is not an emotion. Love is the ultimate truth, at the heart of creation.” Love—cosmic, divine love—is unconditional, and when you realize this ultimate truth, you become untouchable.
The Pit I found myself in
Although I may derive some small pleasure in portraying myself as a young spiritual master, I am not afraid to admit that I, too, grieve and suffer and cause pain for others at times. I have come a long way, but I am not always capable of seeing the love that I describe. I have only just begun on my journey, and there is still much to learn.
Only a year ago, I was in the Pit—a dark, scary place chock-full of every negative thought and emotion imaginable. I had found myself in the Pit through a series of events involving mental illness and a deeply unhealthy relationship. Both led down the rabbit hole, and it was often difficult to tell which did the most digging. While at my worst, every single thing—every thought, feeling, and circumstance—was cause for panic. I would ruminate about everything, and I would never get a break. I couldn’t think clearly, and I most definitely couldn’t sleep. The only pleasant waking moment that I had the pleasure of experiencing was that short breath I took as I came out of peaceful slumber, before again realizing my present reality. This is but one aspect of my Pit, for I do not have the space to tell you it all. It is the tip of the iceberg.
You may find it surprising to learn that my spiritual journey began precisely here, at the root of suffering. It’s true, I would not have discovered any of this had I not suffered in the ways that I have. Without question, challenges, hardships, and suffering exist to grow us.
When I finally found my way out of the Pit, I came back stronger than I have ever been. I went deep into the void and fought my way through it, emerging on the other side with a newfound peace and wisdom. You do not have to look far to see this pattern in others; those who experience the challenges of the Pit, the tests of suffering, are destined for growth of the highest degree, for compassion, enlightenment, and for love.
However, this is not the only thing I learned from the time I spent in the Pit. I discovered many powerful techniques to help cope with the everyday challenges of life and even the greater unknowns of the universe. It is one of these techniques that I would like to share with you, as it is for many an effective, practical method of realizing the love that exists for you, and a way of sustaining that love once it is discovered.
Allow me to introduce you to affirmations.
An affirmation is any positive statement that you say to yourself in order to combat negative thought patterns and change unhelpful beliefs. Affirmations are incredible because they reprogram the mind from the inside out. Many see affirmations as an outlandish, even foolish exercise, but what these individuals are missing is the fact that every one of us has had, since a very young age, an internal dialogue that runs us and tells us whether we are good or bad, worthy or unworthy, loveable or lovable. Affirmations, in the form I speak of here, are simply a way of taking charge of that internal dialogue.
The idea is to affirm, under any and all circumstances, what it is that you want to believe. Over time, you will adopt that belief, and you will begin to feel it resonate within you. I have found that it is possible to adopt any belief. By opening your mind to affirmations, you open the door to an entirely new realm of experience.
It all starts with the thoughts you plant in your mind. If you do not observe or manage your thoughts, you are essentially living your life by default. Start now by speaking strong things into your life, helpful things. Lousie Hay says, “I love myself because I am loveable.” I find this to be a great affirmation, as it supports the love that I spoke of earlier. But this is only the beginning.
Have you wondered what would it feel like to stroll down the sidewalk knowing that you are perfect exactly the way you are? How it would feel to be invigorated with divine, selfless confidence at every step of your day? If you want to know, affirm these things. Sooner or later, you will realize them.
I am loveable.
I love myself because I am loveable.
I am worthy.
I deserve everything I have and everything I need.
I am satisfied.
I am fulfilled.
I have an unlimited number of things to be grateful for.
I am a great person.
I have so much to offer.
I have so much to learn.
I am full of love.
I radiate love from within.
I am love.
With every affirmation that you speak, every negative thought that you correct, you become more of what you want to be. You become empowered. You make progress, until one day you discover for yourself exactly the beliefs and emotions that you seek, and you find peace within you.
Affirmations are the most practical method I know of applying a loving perspective to your life. It is the most effective way of nudging the chaotic mind in the direction that you want it to go. Every time someone does you wrong, release yourself from hate and shame by affirming that they are doing their best. Instead of lashing out or living with resentment, realize instead that offering patience and empathy with that person is the only thing that can benefit the situation, and affirm this. When something bad happens, tell yourself that you are okay. When something good happens, celebrate! Say thank you for all that you have, and for all that you don’t have—you never know what unique benefits you may acquire in not having some material object.
Know in your heart of hearts that, despite all negativity and judgment, you are already successful—and declare this! Despite what Western culture might tell you about excessive work and productivity, you are already fulfilling your purpose just by being here.
Tell yourself, repeatedly, if need be, that all beings and all matter are as they are, both perfect and abundant, and when the seducing habit of self-condemnation tugs at you, stare it in the face and state with certainty, “I am loveable! The concept of being unlovable is absurd.” Choose to believe that you are already loveable, that you always were, and the world will have no choice but to reflect that belief back unto you.
The truth of love is ever-present. Not for a moment do you or I or anyone else leave its expanse. An enlightened being knows this, but I do not believe that full spiritual enlightenment is required for the understanding and expression of this love. You may look at it this way: while sudden enlightenment often brings with it the vast and immediate realization of divine love, affirmations offer a practical method of coming closer and closer to realizing that love, until, eventually, it blossoms on its own.
I believe that affirmations may be used to obtain enlightenment, but whether or not your goal is to become enlightened, affirmations can make anyone see themselves and the world differently. By using affirmations, you may discover things that you never knew existed, emotions that you have never felt, compassion that you have never known. You may cultivate for yourself a love that keeps you whole and warm through all of life’s ups and downs.
Affirmations in the self-help industry are used to change one’s beliefs and improve one’s self-concept. But if you practice them for any reasonable period and with enough energy, you may find more than you can imagine. You may discover the truth of divine love for all—and that, my friends, is the ultimate goal.
Thank you Queens & kings for reaching the end. This post was written by my friend Josh McMullin. Check him out on IG: @joshmcmullin14
Here's a little about him:
My name is Josh McMullin. I am a social sciences student at McMaster university who enjoys writing and occasionally engaging in deep, philosophical debate. Although I have been alive for nineteen long years, my story begins last year, when I found myself in the Pit. It was here, in extreme suffering, that I experienced what can only be described as a spiritual awakening. I have begun to live in a state of peace that I have not before known, and my aim is to enlighten others to all that I have learned. Many things are not as they seem, and I wish to teach this notion. I have begun telling my story, and I am currently working on a self-help memoir that I hope to publish this year.
Thanks for stopping by.
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