Create Space for Love

*Posted originally on strongandmindful

How do we create space to strengthen connection? With love. Below are five mindful thoughts with simple invitations to apply.

IF…

The heart is the hardest working muscle in our body,

THEN…

Love is the hardest working action we experience.

“Good timber does not grow with ease. The stronger the the wind, the stronger the trees.” –Thomas S. Monson

INVITATION: What is one small way I can strengthen a connection today (with myself or others)?

IF…

The heart was designed to be at the center of our chest,

THEN…

Love is designed to be at the center of our lives.

“Great leaders may be found at the top of a mountain looking back upon their challenges, but the greatest leaders ore often found at the foot of that mountain still helping others reach that summit.” –Robert Clancy

INVITATION: DO one small thing that centers and grounds you.

IF…

The heart is a pump for oxygen and nutrients for our body,

THEN…

Love is a pump for light and nutrients for our soul.

“To love is to know we are immersed not in darkness, but in light.” –Mother Teresa

INVITATION: What is one small action of love I can do (for myself or for others) that will bring light into my day?

IF…

The heart MUST both give AND gather blood/oxygen to function,

THEN…

The action of love MUST be to both give and gather.

“The heart that gives, gathers.” Tao Te Ching

INVITATION: What is one small action of love can I give today? What is one small action of love can I gather today?

IF…

The heart is the most protected organ,

THEN…

Leading with our heart is the most vulnerable place to be.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly…” –Theodore Roosevelt (and thanks to Brené Brown for shedding such light on this quote in her book Daring Greatly)

INVITATION: What is one small way I can embrace vulnerability and recognize that failure means I truly stepped into the arena?