7 Steps for choosing (Radical) Love over Fear

On this Valentine's Day, and every day, we have the choice to shower ourselves and our world with love or fear. I want to choose love, radical love. How about you? Sending you love along with these Seven Steps!

We are living in extraordinary times. Clearly, it is important to know about things that can keep us safe. But what is being splashed in front of us at a rapid rate is repeatedly fearful information that can keep us on edge. More than ever, I believe we need to make our choices “based on love not fear,” as Elisabeth Kübler-Ross advocated.

I originally shared these Seven Steps for choosing (Radical) Love over Fear in my  Wellness Wisdom: 31 Ways to Nourish Your Mind, Body, & Spirit  book but I needed to be reminded so I thought you might find them supportive too.

1.    Lovingly observe when you enter the emotional realm of fearful thinking. You might say to yourself, “Ah, this is an opportunity for me to choose either fear or love. I choose love.”

2.    Take three deep, calming breaths when you notice stressful, physical sensations in your gut, the pit in your stomach, your rapidly beating heart, or the tightness in your neck or back.

3.    Practice mindfulness meditation.

4.    Move your body. Walk, run, swim, dance, bike, do Nia, yoga, or Pilates. Physical exercise produces endorphins (providing a morphine-like high) right from your body’s own personal pharmacy.

5.    Pray, meditate, chant, or sing. Marianne Williamson wisely suggests that we place our fears and concerns “on the altar to be altered.” I love that concept!

6.    Extend love often and be the place where love shows up.

7.    Generate and choose radical love every chance you get.