I See Love

Lately, I’ve been pondering what it means to operate FROM Love instead of FOR Love.

It’s the difference between hustling for something you think you can earn versus being powered by a deep, inner sense of acceptance—by a knowing and a trusting that you are enough.

Anxiety comes from working for love.
Spreading yourself thin,
not setting boundaries,
           self-betrayal from what you actually want—
all come from working for love.

This week, it occurred to me that that’s what I’ve been doing. Doing a lot of “good things” but forgetting to actually be good to myself. Somehow, I had started going through the motions—distracted by ‘this deadline’ and ‘that bill’ needing to be paid—while completely losing sight of my “why”.

Why do I do what I do? Who and what is most important here? Who am I trying to impress with all this productivity?

I lost sight of love. I lost sight of me.

But when I become aware of my intrinsic value—the fact that LOVE sees me, knows me and is looking out for me—I can breathe deeper. I can let go of the frantic need for validation and instead nestle into a peace that emanates from my core.

It says: I am loved.

It says:
“I have nothing to hide.
I have nothing to protect.
I have nothing to prove.
I have nothing to defend.”*

And this realization is breath-taking. First because it knocks the wind out of every pointless, people-pleasing activity I’ve been entangled in. And secondly, because I can finally experience the beauty of living when my work is meaningful—when I build a life that is sincerely kind to me.

This is how I want to live. Slow mornings, intentional breaths—setting boundaries with purpose in my steps.

Do you every lose your way? How do you recenter and root yourself back in love?

—NL

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*Quote by Lisa Nichols