By Blake D. Bauer //

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”
— Jalaluddin Rumi

Our search for love and connection is the one true driving force behind everything we do and everything we desire in life. Once our striving for approval, recognition, security or success loses its momentum, we finally realize we’ve simply been looking for love in all its manifestations, because when it comes down to it, what else really matters?

In many cases, even before our physical survival needs for food, water or shelter have been met, our need for love surfaces as the primary motivating factor in life, because love is what makes life truly worth living. Love, and the genuine meaningful connections that arise with it, is the true medicine that heals, inspires and fulfills, and this is why, whether we’re willing to admit it or not, we are either directly or indirectly in the pursuit of love right now.

This universal desire for love that we all share symbolizes a deep longing within each of us to remember who we really are and thus come home to our true nature – a nature that is, always has been and always will be an infinite source of pure love. But because we’ve forgotten this, most of what we do on a daily basis is motivated by our desire for others to love us or to love ourselves more fully, so that, ultimately, we can one day feel great within ourselves and our lives.

Until we awaken to the source of love within, we all look for love, attention or recognition externally from others, because we haven’t learned how to love and value ourselves daily in ways that are fulfilling. However, as we learn to care for ourselves emotionally and physically in practical ways, we heal the internalized hurt that blocks our access to the source of love within, and this simultaneously uncovers the love that we are.

Through learning to relate to ourselves with the kindness, honesty and respect we crave, we naturally grow in our ability to embody love and thus give to others purely and unconditionally, which, along with simply enjoying each day, is an expression of our ultimate life purpose.

In our quest for healing, purpose and happiness each of us is simply looking for love. We’re instinctually learning how to love ourselves and how to create healthy situations and relationships that are grounded in love. At first, we all search the outer world for the love that has its home right in our very own hearts. Each of us simply wants to be seen, understood, accepted, appreciated and valued just as we are. Deep down, we all want to feel that our lives really matter, that we’re not alone, and that even a single person actually cares about our feelings, desires, needs and dreams.

About the Author

Blake D. Bauer is the author of the international best-selling book You Were Not Born To Suffer. He is a sought after wisdom teacher with an extensive background in psychology, alternative medicine, nutrition, traditional healing and mindfulness meditation. Based on both his personal experience overcoming deep suffering, addiction and adversity, as well as his professional success with thousands of people worldwide, his pioneering work integrates what he’s found to be the most effective approaches to optimal mental, emotional and physical health.