love

Allowing others the permission to love you.

Accepting love.

Why is it hard for some of us?

Is it hard for you to accept love?

• It's not hard for me at all
• It can be hard for me sometimes
• It's very hard for me

There were times when it was hard to let others love me.

For me, it was the fear of not being accepted as my authentic self.

For others, it could be the fear of not being enough, the fear of letting others down, or simply the fear of heartbreak.

Whatever the reason, the root is usually fear.

And theres no fear in love. (1 John 4:18)

I know a lot of people who built walls around their hearts to protect themselves.

They feared being vulnerable, carried past hurts and worries about love's potential pain.

But deep inside, they all yearned for genuine connections and the healing power of love.

It takes a lot of courage to embrace love. It means being open and letting go of our defenses, even when we're unsure of what lies ahead. Sometimes, we resist love because we doubt our worthiness of being cherished. We might feel unworthy, unsure of ourselves, and our flaws. But it's important to know that each of us is deserving of love, imperfections and all.

Love also calls for vulnerability – being real and showing our true selves. It may feel scary, but it's in these moments that we form genuine connections. Through vulnerability, we discover our shared humanity and the beauty of our struggles.

Embracing love means letting go of control and embracing the unpredictable nature of emotions. Love can't be forced or confined; it flows and changes like a river. And in this surrender, we find freedom – the freedom to experience unconditional love that enriches our lives.

This journey isn't straightforward. There will be doubts, fears, and setbacks, but they make us stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.

The key is to have faith.

Remember that being loved is a gift, a sign of our shared humanity. It shows that God is alive and active, because without His love, our ability to love would not even exist.

For me, allowing others to love me required vulnerability, trust, and breaking free from my self-imposed barriers and lies that I believed about others, about myself.

Now I can joyfully experience the beauty of living life fully and authentically without fear.

I can now cherish both the love I receive and the love I give.

And I truly have so much to give...