What is Love, Really?

By Meagan Fettes

There are so many topics centered around love. Over the past ten years it has become common table talk to pass around the idea of self-love and personal intimacy, yet what exactly does that mean? Although love is one of the most well-known ideas, its actual reality is fleeting to so many that desire to achieve it. It has become an unattainable experience as the grasping hands reach towards the unknown.

I remember when I heard the idea of practicing self-love for the first time.

My palms were sweating as I sat on my Yoga mat diving into my reactions based on how I judged aspects of my life. Here I was in my first 200hr Yoga Teacher Training with my mind blown! The immediate thoughts raced through my brain, “self-love… What does that even mean? I thought it was selfish to love myself first? Am I sure I even deserve love… my love?” Now if I were to rewind even a few months before that, I was thick in the reality of drug and alcohol addiction, and even though I made the choice to take my life in another direction, how was I supposed to love myself for all the things I had done, what I put my family and friends through, and really, where do I even start?

I realized the more I listened that I wasn’t alone. Every other student in that training struggled to love themselves or to even know what that love looks like. I went home that night, the idea still racing through my mind as I began to explore the concept and experiment with the idea of inviting self-love and personal intimacy into my life. Most articles on the Internet talked about baths, doing the things you love, dressing nice to boost your confidence so I dove right in… to the bath that is. That was NOT what I would call a self-love practice. I sat for 10 minutes in that first “self-love” bath judging every inch of my body- from my boobs, my stomach, my thighs… I mean there they were naked and just taunting me. I had failed. I was right back to feeling defeated and uncertain if I could ever master this whole concept at all or if I was even worth it in the first place.

The next weekend I went back to the Yoga Teacher Training and we dove into ourselves further, exploring why we do the things we do, based on our belief systems

....and BOOM it hit me!

Self love is so much deeper then what most talk about- in fact it is often within the areas of Being, that over the years we have been taught are self-centered. In our everyday experience its choosing to focus on ourselves first, our growth, the things we love to do, seeing ourselves for real and telling ourselves that we love ourselves in the mirror ...

“yup it is as uncomfortable as it sounds at first!”.

... setting boundaries and choosing to be authentic and vulnerable with those in our lives.

After years of implementing these into my own life, I realized that self-love and personal intimacy, really all aspects of love has layers, it is not a black and white process, nor is it one we ever truly fully realize because there is no end- it is in essence the constant catalyst of our growth and evolution as a Being. And further yet, it is a holistic practice with no true beginning and no true end… It is the ever-flowing example of the infinite symbol.

What I can share from my own experience is the true journey into love begins with presence.

It is from that presence that you can observe yourself and the reality of all life in a space of acceptance and surrender. Accepting ourselves, our family and friends, community and the world as it is and to love it all no matter what state it is, trusting that there is no such thing as a mistake. Now whether you're spiritual or not, the idea of, there are no mistakes and really understanding or better yet embodying that concept is where the energy of love begins to permeate your existence and all things you touch. Once that loving energy is active in your life, it acts as if you have the Midas touch and leaves everything you experience, everything you touch, every connection you have fulfilled.

It is the energy that, once embodied, will transform your life, your relationships, your health, and your business!

Presence - Acceptance and Surrender - Trust is the formula that activates that energy and allows it to expand and spread into every connection you have! That is what love is... no beginning, no end, the life blood of all you do including your work in business!

Meagan Fettes, founder of RISE Yoga School, RISE Entrepreneur Center and Entrepreneur Fit, is known for teaching world-wide tools that people can use to grow their businesses, access greater joy, abundance and success in their lives and business while bringing them into a state of alignment and purpose within themselves.

She bridges the logical and spiritual aspects of business to support people in stepping into their highest potential and create a more abundantly successful experience in life and business.

Transform the trajectory of your life and your business! Connect with Meagan here: 403-803-6821