The Simple Act of Loving Well
The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in. – Morrie Schwartz
Every day we get the chance to love well. Sometimes we take this chance; sometimes we ignore it and sometimes we are fortunate enough to receive it. Loving well is a simple, pure gift given from the heart. It doesn’t require much planning or effort; it just requires the awareness to do it.
Loving well is about lifting our heads to see who is waiting beyond our reach. It’s about being aware of the needs of others and, when appropriate, to place these needs before our own. To love well is an unselfish act of giving without considering what’s in it for us. The simple act of loving well is the antidote when a heart needs some tender nourishment.
Learning to love well
My understanding and need of love has changed over the years. Even now I’m still learning how to love well as a father, son, sibling and of course as a husband. When I’m faced with the choice to love well, I remember these lessons:
- Love cannot be rushed or forced. It has to be given the space to grow and breathe.
- To love well is to celebrate the imperfections, too.
- Love starts from the inside and then works out.
- Love needs to take quiet breaks along the way.
- To love well is to know when to stop talking and to start doing.
- Love points to our hearts’ true north when we feel alone.
- Love never expires; only our ability to feel it.
- To love well is to show more gratitude than disappointment.
- Knowing how to love someone is more powerful than the best intention.
- Love sees through the shame to acknowledge the beauty that lives within.
- Love finds peace in the chaos.
- The way we love ourselves shapes our confidence.
- To love well is to look for an opportunity to be an encourager.
- Love is the witness to goodness.
- The best gift we can receive is to be given a second chance to love.
- To love well is the point of being human.
Simple, one word acts of loving well
The act of loving well is not defined by how large we love, but by how we love gently, sweetly and simply. When we do this, love’s wonderful message continues to fill our hearts with its grace. The simple act of loving well can sometimes be defined by just one word. While tremendous effort can live behind each word, the results of these words can be seen immediately:
- generous
compassionate
trusting
forgiving
awareness
sensitive
kindness
patient
passionate
sharing
supportive
positive
accommodating
responsive
sincerity
authentic
inspiring
understanding
Which one word touches you the most? What is one simple act of loving well you have provided or received? Please share in Comments.
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More from The BridgeMaker
Alex Blackwell is the Founder of The BridgeMaker. His book, How to Love Consciously, is now available as a free download here. Join Alex and The BridgeMaker community on Facebook and don’t forget to get your free subscription to receive free updates and exclusive content.
- A Simple Path – To Serving Others
- A Simple Path – To Asking for Help
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- Free eBook: How to Love Consciously
- A Simple Path – To What Makes You Stronger
Comments
11 Responses to “The Simple Act of Loving Well”
What do you think?
Alex,
I believe that this is the core of our existence and the metaphysical law…….
This is so wonderful. Love is so much easier than hate. I’m stepping up my love today!
Really good article Alex, so actionable! While most of these steps seem simple and straightforward, they are also the very things that tend to get overlooked. This article is a real relationship builder.
@ Mack: Agree. Love is fundamental to who we are as humans and how we want to live our lives.
@ Tess: It is easier Tess, and more fun too!
AWESOME as usual Alex. Mind if I repost it on my blog? All credits would go to you, as always.
Re-post away Mair and thank you!
Hello Alex,
I come here by way of Tess’s blog.
Great article Alex. I love the first sentence “Every day we get the chance to love well”. WOW. That is really profound if you just stop and think about that one statement. We DO get the opportunity each and every day, and probably many opportunities.
@ Keith: Glad you are here Keith by way of Tess’ great blog!
1 Corinthians 13 sums it all about love –
1-If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2-If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3-If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4-Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5-It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6-Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7-It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8-Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
9-For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10-but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
11-When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
12-Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13-And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
I’ve been memorizing this chapter for over a year everyday without fail. And I testify that this chapter have a profound impact in me. I used to harbor hatred, impatient and quick-tempered. And thank God, for His Words now that I’ve changed completely – 360 degrees to one who is forgiving and patience just because now I truly understand what is Love.
I’d strongly recommend to anyone to read and memorize 1 Corinthians 13 everyday. Trust God. He’ll change and make you whom He has created you to be.
Alex, you have a wonderful description of love here too. A fabulously well written post.
Amen.
@ Alex: Thanks for sharing. The verse that speaks loudest to my heart is 13: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
His love is great and we are blessed with it.
Lovely points,
Love can happen’t in any second in life, that can be to a girl, Boy, place, your goal. we have love deeply if we need to archive
Niluka