Whatever the Situation, We Can Always Love

It is a very rare privilege to be able to share two modest insights on life with an audience such as you. I am most grateful for this opportunity.

At one period in my life, I seemed to be right on the top of things: A successful trainer and writer, a comfortable income, exceptional health, a marriage given in example by all and a spiritual path of 40 years standing.

And then in the space of a few months, everything came crashing down: my fabulous marriage; I faced the greatest health challenge of my life (with very dire medical predictions); my workshops and hence my income; and finally my spiritual path which fell to pieces. One or two would have been bad enough, but all five at the same time … I really felt “in the valley of the shadow of death” wondering how, if ever, I would get out one day. It was really utter, total, sheer hell.

Two statements kept me going. One by a little known American metaphysician (and an incredible healer) of the 19th century, Mary Baker Eddy, “A deep sincerity is sure of success, for God takes care of it.” Never one second did I doubt my sincerity. I had made some major mistakes, especially on my spiritual path and my marriage, but there was never any malice. I was at every moment at my highest level of consciousness (which evidently was not very high during that time!) If I could have been higher, I would have been. And I believe this is true of every single human being, even the most appalling dictators. (And if one truly understands this, one can no longer ever judge).

The second insight was in four simple words, but what packed dynamite: “You can always love.” Whatever you are going through, however unbearable your present tsunami, whatever the injustice, the cruelty of seemingly intractable conditions, the feelings of depression or anger or (at times) utter hopelessness, you can always, always, always love.

So I held on by the skin of my teeth. And little by little the veil lifted, the calm was restored, life started smiling again. My depressed “no” became a grateful YES. And above all, I acquired the deep inner conviction that love IS the ultimate solution, not only to personal problems, but to world issues.

And of course, this love includes oneself! As a trainer of 24 years running workshops on personal development in different countries, I have acquired the deep conviction that authentic self-love is one of the most crying psychological needs of our world.

An important footnote to the realization. “I can always love” is the realization that, from a non-dual perspective of a spirituality of the oneness of all things, if we are truly rooted in a clear consciousness of our divine nature, we cannot not love, because we are divine Love expressing itself.