INNER
LOVE AFFAIR Faith Hunter While having tea with a friend a few weeks ago, we chatted about love and the cultivation of healthy relationships. As we sipped and nurtured our friendship, I examined how my connection to others is a direct reflection of my relationship to myself. It doesn’t matter if I’m struggling with my lover, family, or even having troubles communicating with a friend; my negative interactions are sometimes connected to a lack of love towards myself. If I am loving and honoring me, I am loving and honoring all who cross my path. My dad once said, “Follow your heart, nurture your soul, and believe that you are capable of accomplishing anything.” As a child, I wasn’t exactly sure what he fully meant. However, after a divorce at age 29 and thousands of tears, I realized my heart and soul were craving a real lover. It was impossible for me to have a loving and supportive relationship with another being if I wasn’t taking care of me. At that moment, I made a personal commitment to have an “inner love affair.” You are probably wondering what an “inner love affair” looks like. Plain and simple, I am doing everything in my power to nurture, cherish, excite, surprise, and celebrate all of who I am. It can manifest as acting on a new idea, being an adventurous traveler, having compassion in my yoga practice, purging all my furniture to create a new home environment, or being unafraid to share the love in my heart. However, these things can’t happen without putting in a little work.
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It is impossible for us to love ourselves if we are holding on to inner demons that tell us we are not good enough, unattractive, and undeserving of love. Have a face-off with these monsters, and see them for who they really are: FEAR. The fear of being a beautiful, amazing, powerful, and divine creature that is capable of love.
FACE THE DEMONS
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Stop being and acting the way you think your
STEP INTO A PLACE OF HONESTY. parents, your lover, and the world see you. Stand
in your truth, do what your heart desires, and follow your passions. At the end of my divorce, I decided to fully embrace my goddess spirit, quit my job, move to New York, and become a yoga teacher. Lots of changes, but they were all coming from a place of personal honesty and loving devotion to my inner sweetness. Once you face the demons and step into a place
BE DIVINE WITHOUT APOLOGIZING. of honesty, your heart opens, and you are filled
Heid
with true self-love. The veils are removed, and that love is expressed by being present and fully connected to your true desires. You have the power to set boundaries and feel comfortable making time just for you. You are empathic and compassionate towards yourself and view your challenges of the past as building blocks to a glorious future.
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Fall in love with yourself again and again.
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If you are interested in cultivating an invigorating “inner love affair,” use some of my personal tips to kick-start the deepest level of intimacy you will ever have.
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I know these concepts and the statement of self-love can seem somewhat cliché; however, the benefits are life changing. The love creates space for powerful relationships outside of yourself. Give it a try. Fall in love with yourself again and again.
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