<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Lessons in Love &#187; Personal Developent</title>
	<atom:link href="http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/category/personal-developent/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://thelessonsinlove.com</link>
	<description>Personal Development for a Life that Works!</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 19:15:54 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1</generator>
		<item>
		<title>Heaven Is Who We Are</title>
		<link>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/1064</link>
		<comments>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/1064#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 May 2012 19:15:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Harrigan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How to Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Immortality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lessons in Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Developent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[What Is Love]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thelessonsinlove.com/?p=1064</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Heaven is a conscious choice.<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/1064' addthis:title='Heaven Is Who We Are '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The following article is from my book, &#8220;Lessons in Love.&#8221; See <a href="www.TheLessonsInLove.com">www.TheLessonsInLove.com</a> for more about this book.</p>
<div id="attachment_4923" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 210px"><a href="http://immortalnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/BEACHBOY.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-4923" title="Immortality and Love" src="http://immortalnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/BEACHBOY.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="194" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Immortality and Love</p></div>
<p><strong>Heaven Is Here</strong></p>
<p>We do not need to die to go to heaven; we can and should create it here, through God&#8217;s will. If we realize that we can have heaven on earth, that this is the plan, we can begin to let it happen. We have all the ingredients: love, will and the presence of God.</p>
<p><strong>At Peace with the World</strong></p>
<p>All of Creation points us toward one thing–heaven. Heaven is the spiritual state where we are at one with God, one mind and one purpose, our wills the same.</p>
<p><strong>Dreams Come True</strong></p>
<p>All our dreams, good dreams, come true in heaven. God wants what is good and has given humanity the means to attain it: The infirm will walk. The sick will be healed. War will end, and all will be fed. The terms of how and when this will happen, are up to us?</p>
<p><strong>Heaven Is a Choice</strong></p>
<p>Heaven is a conscious choice. When will we say <em>enough</em> to what is harmful in life? When will we know we are here to be happy, healthy and free?</p>
<div id="attachment_7059" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 154px"><a href="http://immortalnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FWB-Mom-Flowers-Destin-Commons-018.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-7059  " title="Immortality and Heaven" src="http://immortalnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FWB-Mom-Flowers-Destin-Commons-018-225x300.jpg" alt="Immortality and Heaven" width="144" height="192" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Heaven Is Here!</p></div>
<p><strong>Heaven Comes to Earth</strong></p>
<p>Heaven comes to earth as we let it, as we usher it in with our minds, hearts and souls. As we become one with God and see ourselves as God sees us, we come to be in heaven. As we help and do good&#8230; we bring heaven, the dwelling place of God, to earth.</p>
<p><strong>Heaven Is Our Soul</strong></p>
<p>Heaven will come as we desire and need it. Heaven is God’s gift for being who we are. Let it happen?let heaven be here.</p>
<p><strong>For more about how</strong> to bring heaven, strength and goodness to your life, see <a href="http://www.ImmortalNow.com">www.ImmortalNow.com</a></p>
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/1064' addthis:title='Heaven Is Who We Are '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/1064/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Secret to Power and Strength</title>
		<link>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/1004</link>
		<comments>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/1004#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:43:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Harrigan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[How to Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Developent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Meaning of Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[What Is Love]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thelessonsinlove.com/?p=1004</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When someone joins us in what we do, we become more effective---our thoughts, feelings and behavior, when joined with others, gain strength.<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/1004' addthis:title='The Secret to Power and Strength '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://thelessonsinlove.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Istanbul-last-picts-4781.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1008" title="Personal development; how to gain strength" src="http://thelessonsinlove.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Istanbul-last-picts-4781-300x225.jpg" alt="How to love; how to gain strength" width="300" height="225" /></a><strong>When we do something repeatedly,</strong> what we do gains strength&#8212;the thought, feeling and action we do gets stronger.</p>
<p><strong>When someone joins us</strong> in what we do, we become more effective&#8212;our thoughts, feelings and behavior, when joined with others, gain strength.</p>
<p><strong>If we are thinking, speaking and acting</strong> in a way that is beneficial to ourselves, we gain by repeating what we do.</p>
<p><strong>If we repeatedly think,</strong> speak and act in a way not beneficial to ourselves and the world, little is gained.</p>
<p><strong>As we do well for ourselves</strong> and all of life, we are joined by other people wanting good for their lives too.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/1004' addthis:title='The Secret to Power and Strength '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/1004/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Love Makes Us Healthy!</title>
		<link>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/914</link>
		<comments>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/914#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Feb 2012 06:51:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Harrigan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Psychology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How to Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Developent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Meaning of Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[What Is Love]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thelessonsinlove.com/?p=914</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To love is divine: it frees our soul and makes us healthy.<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/914' addthis:title='Love Makes Us Healthy! '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote><p>To hate or despise is an easy reaction. For the best of life, love instead!</p></blockquote>
<p>It is easy to criticize or dislike someone. Yet it&#8217;s better for ourselves, and all the world, if we love instead.</p>
<div id="attachment_927" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://thelessonsinlove.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_2377.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-927  " title="How to Love" src="http://thelessonsinlove.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_2377-300x225.jpg" alt="The meaning of love" width="300" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Can you love this cat?</p></div>
<p>To love is divine: it frees our soul and makes us healthy. Yes, healthy! Our body and mind work best when we are involved in love&#8212;thinking and acting with love by willful intent.</p>
<p>As we move our thoughts from hate and dislike, to a life of love, we feel ease and safety&#8212;a fullness of life. We feel ourselves again. Our thoughts and bodies relax. We become free to enjoy who we are, to appreciate each day.</p>
<p>Love is a choice, a direction to take. We can love every moment of the day if we choose!</p>
<p>Make the choice to love <em>yourself</em>, to love your life, to appreciate the world in which you live.</p>
<p>Find something good to love today! Love every chance you get&#8212;with every thought, word and action you make. Your life will improve.</p>
<p>Love is health.</p>
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/914' addthis:title='Love Makes Us Healthy! '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/914/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>You Create Your Life</title>
		<link>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/798</link>
		<comments>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/798#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:55:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Harrigan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Developent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self-Improvement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thelessonsinlove.com/?p=798</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We all face the same dilema: We have thought about death, disease and suffering&#8212;and have accepted these situations as inevitable, as a part of life&#8212;when this is not the case. The only &#8220;fact of life&#8221; is that we can change our lives, and the world. We create our life every day, for better or worse&#8212;by <a href='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/798' class='excerpt-more'>[...]</a><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/798' addthis:title='You Create Your Life '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><a href="http://thelessonsinlove.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_2614.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-809" title="IMG_2614" src="http://thelessonsinlove.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/IMG_2614-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p><strong>We all face the same dilema:</strong></p>
<p>We have thought about death, disease and suffering&#8212;and have accepted these situations as inevitable, as a part of life&#8212;when this is not the case.</p>
<p><strong>The only &#8220;fact of life&#8221;</strong><strong> is that we can change our lives, </strong>and the world. We create our life every day, for better or worse&#8212;by our thoughts, actions and beliefs. We change the natural laws of creation by who we are and how we act.</p>
<p>The things that we think, believe and accept&#8212;impact the world and our lives. <em>We  design and make the world by how we behave</em>.</p>
<p>As we understand we are creating the world, we can look at our beliefs, feeling and thoughts&#8230; and see how they add up? We may ask: where are we taking ourselves? Where are we taking the world?</p>
<p><strong>Are we building, mending and making good friends?</strong> Do we resolve the problems of previous generations, or continue the same mistakes in a different style?</p>
<p>How are you creating the world for yourself and others? What instructions are you giving to life?</p>
<p><strong>If our actions return to us in the manner we behave, what will come to us?</strong> What can we expect? If our thoughts and feelings take place in our bodies and brains, how are we treating ourselves?</p>
<p>Take control. You create your life. You decide what you will have, what you receive from life?</p>
<p>If there is something you don&#8217;t like, look to yourself for the change you want!</p>
<p>You are in control, and you create your life.</p>
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/798' addthis:title='You Create Your Life '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/798/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Opportunity of Illness</title>
		<link>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/762</link>
		<comments>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/762#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:05:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Harrigan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[healing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Developent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Lessons In Love]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thelessonsinlove.com/?p=762</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Illness sometimes stops our world. While ill, we have opportunity. We can stay in our disease or use it as an opportunity to discover our deep and perfect selves, the perfection in the world. Illness is frightening, for good cause. We suffer, are in pain and may die? Illness puts a stop to our world <a href='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/762' class='excerpt-more'>[...]</a><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/762' addthis:title='The Opportunity of Illness '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong>Illness sometimes stops our world</strong>. While ill, we have opportunity. We can stay in our disease or use it as an opportunity to discover our deep and perfect selves, the perfection in the world.</p>
<p><strong>Illness is frightening, for good cause</strong>. We suffer, are in pain and may die? Illness puts a stop to our world as we know it.</p>
<blockquote><p>We can deny our difficult condition, or work with our problem and learn.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>The best lesson from illness</strong> is to see how valuable, perfect and powerful our life really is, to see we have ability and belief deeper than we may have imagined.</p>
<p>In good health we can live with abandon, not thinking about the value of life; but in illness <strong>we have an opportunity to see a deeper quality and purpose in living</strong> that carries to all of our life.</p>
<p>In illness, we may find we are more powerful and perfect than we ever knew?</p>
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/762' addthis:title='The Opportunity of Illness '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/762/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Way Out of Suffering</title>
		<link>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/753</link>
		<comments>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/753#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:14:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Harrigan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[healing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Developent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Lessons In Love]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thelessonsinlove.com/?p=753</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The way out of suffering is a spiritual path—a path that returns us to our origin. We may question our pain, thinking we did not cause it, that the situation is not our fault? This may be true, but if we want release from pain, no matter how it began, it is our responsibility. It <a href='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/753' class='excerpt-more'>[...]</a><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/753' addthis:title='The Way Out of Suffering '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong>The way out of suffering is a spiritual path</strong>—a path that returns us to our origin.</p>
<p>We may question our pain, thinking we did not cause it, that the situation is not our fault? This may be true, but if we want release from pain, no matter how it began, it is our responsibility.</p>
<p><strong>It is our problem and requires we take action.</strong> Our <em>intent </em>will be the gateway to relief.</p>
<p>Though our spirit may seem failing and uneasy, this same spirit will take us out of pain.</p>
<p><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>We must ask for help and share our suffering. This dissipates our pain and unifies our spirit with the world.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong>The world does not want us to suffer;</strong> it is not our design to be in pain. When we are at peace, and in agreement with life, suffering falls away. As we sense our perfect core and the love of life, healing takes place…</p>
<p>As we know we are made of love, we conform to our design of health. As we know and see our spirit in strength, our suffering will ease.</p>
<p><strong>Healing may happen quickly, but also may take time.</strong> It may take time to heal a difficult situation? It is important, however, that we begin.</p>
<p>As we suffer, we may get lost and confused. And who among us has not suffered or been mistaken to some degree? We all have suffered; suffering affects our thoughts and will. Let us be humble and seek our core of love, and know the love of the world.</p>
<p><strong>In love, all things recover</strong>—the world, our life and health. In love, there is no accident.</p>
<p>The way out of suffering comes by persistent effort, taking action toward our core of love.</p>
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/753' addthis:title='The Way Out of Suffering '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/753/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Personal Growth and Relationships: Getting the Love You Want</title>
		<link>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/629</link>
		<comments>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/629#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 02 Oct 2010 03:19:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Harrigan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Developent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Lessons In Love]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thelessonsinlove.com/?p=629</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is an article about personal growth and relationships, both platonic and romantic: You will learn how to get more of the love you want, while accepting more of the love you already have. &#8220;Love is Divine, and so are we.&#8221; &#8220;By letting others love us, we let them have the gift of love. Let <a href='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/629' class='excerpt-more'>[...]</a><div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/629' addthis:title='Personal Growth and Relationships: Getting the Love You Want '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong></strong><br />
<em>This is an article about personal growth and relationships, both platonic and romantic: You will learn how to get more of the love you want, while accepting more of the love you already have.</em><br />
<strong></strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>&#8220;Love is Divine, and so are we.&#8221;<br />
</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong></strong><br />
&#8220;By letting others love us, we let them have the gift of love. Let others love you.</p>
<p>&#8220;Love is union. Love is giving and receiving at the same time&#8212;as we give we receive. Let others have the gift of love, by letting them love you now!</p>
<p>&#8220;You are important, most important! Everyone is important in the design of life. The design of life is beautiful; you get to peek at it every time you are involved in love.&#8221;</p>
<p>From <a href="http://thelessonsinlove.com">&#8220;Lessons in Love,&#8221; pp 225-226</a><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>Get the Love You Want with a New Approach:<br />
</strong></p>
<p>When we think of love, and its value in Personal Development, we often think about how WE can be more loving, compassionate and kind? How about a different approach, something new?</p>
<p><strong>To Improve the Love in Your Life Today, Try this:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Be selfish, for a change.</li>
<li>Think about YOURSELF&#8212;what you need and want?</li>
<li>Understand &#8220;the norm of reciprocity&#8221;: the secret to great relationships.</li>
<li>Place more people in your life who love you.</li>
<li>Let the people, already in your life, love you more.</li>
<li>Learn the 5 Steps for getting the love you want.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>How to Find People Who Love You</strong>:</p>
<p>Find people who love you, people who smile at the sight of you. They exist. They are out in the world, similar to you and waiting for someone to love. The need to love is as great as the need to be loved; they are inseparable. Look for someone who loves you, someone YOU love too.</p>
<p>Do you have people in your life who like you, people who like <em>who you are </em>and know you well? Do you like your friends? Maybe, maybe not? Few friends are perfect, and few relationships are ideal. But we can have in mind the type of person and friend we want.</p>
<p>We need an ideal <em>of our own</em> to guide our efforts as we make attractions and bring new friends into our life. Think about yourself for a change, about who you are and what you want? Find someone who loves you and likes you. Find someone you also like.</p>
<p><strong>The Secret to Great Relationships: </strong><strong>&#8220;The Norm of Reciprocity&#8221;</strong></p>
<p>The &#8220;norm&#8221; of reciprocity&#8230; WOW, what&#8217;s that? Is it the guy in the bar at &#8220;Cheers&#8221;? Well&#8230; we all liked Norm, but the <em>norm</em> <em>of reciprocity</em> refers to a relationship where two people are giving equally to each other. When I give something to you, you give me something in return. It can be a kind word, a hug or a smile. A REAL relationship has two people giving equally over time.</p>
<p>A business relationship works the same as friendship or love. &#8220;What, that sounds awful&#8221;! Well, think about it? In a business relationship, I give you something, and you give me something back&#8212;it&#8217;s called commerce. In a love relationship, I give you my love and attention&#8212;you give me love and attention. The presence of reciprocity is how you know you are in a relationship.</p>
<p>How does that sound? What are your relationships like? Are you getting what you give? Is it love? Maybe, maybe not? Think about it? Are you getting what you give? Do you WANT something back?</p>
<p><strong>Come out from Hiding, and Accept the Love You Have:</strong></p>
<p>It is sometimes easy to hide in a relationship where the other person does NOT give back to you. There is no threat; things are easy to predict. But it&#8217;s not equal. Of course there are times, in the best of relationships, where things are not equal: you have to sacrifice, that&#8217;s life. We all have tough times where we are not as able to give as we would like. But that&#8217;s not what I am talking about.</p>
<ul>
<li>Are you hiding in a relationship where you are the only one giving?</li>
<li>Is there something more you need and want?</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>How to Get More Love, when You Want It:</strong></p>
<p>To fix a relationship you may need to give the situation a chance, telling your friend or partner what you want. Be patient. Work at changing things first. See what happens? Or get out of the relationship. It is up to you?</p>
<p>Sometimes we hide in situation where we are the ones giving most. This avoids intimacy. We can hide from our insecurities and wounds, and feel protected. But true intimacy cannot happen, and satisfaction may be limited.</p>
<p>Sometimes it is difficult and threatening to be loved. Are you ready for a change? Are you interested in improving your life? Think about how to let someone love you more, how to let someone into your life?</p>
<p><strong>5 Steps to Getting the Love You Want:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Tell your friends what you want.</li>
<li>Listen to others with sincerity and calm.</li>
<li>Give voice to what you want to <em>do</em>!</li>
<li>Speak about how you feel.</li>
<li>Share yourself more: thoughts, feelings, fears and hopes.</li>
</ol>
<p>Make changes; try these five steps. Read my book, <a href="http://www.thelessonsinlove.com">&#8220;Lessons in Love.&#8221;</a> Do something different; ask for what you want. Be more of who you are. Stand up for yourself, but don&#8217;t be a bully. Practice kindness and love, ask for this in return. Practice the norm of reciprocity: Be comfortable receiving, and give back something of equal or greater value. Offer your love, your kindness, your hope&#8230; Do this again and again. Results will come with practice. You will get what you want, and love will grow.</p>
<div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_default_style " addthis:url='http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/629' addthis:title='Personal Growth and Relationships: Getting the Love You Want '  ><a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="button_count"></a><a class="addthis_button_tweet"></a><a class="addthis_counter addthis_pill_style"></a></div>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://thelessonsinlove.com/archives/629/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

