Podcaster and best-selling author Jay Shetty bases his guide to love on the lessons he learned during his three years as a Hindu monk. Gleaning insights from his wife Radhi, whom he credits as one of his greatest teachers, Shetty seeks to demystify love by distilling it into a daily practice. People throw the word “love” around without really thinking about what it means, he says, and they often have misguided notions about its true nature. Shetty shows how to cultivate and sustain deep, meaningful relationships while embracing a never-ending journey of personal growth.
There is no “perfect” love. The practice of love requires a learner’s mind-set.
Make love an intentional daily practice. Finding love isn’t about learning the right manipulative techniques to win someone’s attention. Instead, it calls for cultivating a loving mind-set. To achieve that mind-set, let go of negative emotions such as self-doubt, anger and greed, and commit to a journey of self-discovery and personal growth.
Don’t waste time pretending to be someone you are not to attract love. Aspire to find a partner who aligns with your authentic self and true values. Forget the fairy-tale version of perfect love you may have learned from childhood films or stories. Real love is imperfect and involves a continuous cycle of learning to love yourself and others.
The Vedas – a collection of ancient Hindu texts – describe the four stages, or ashrams, of life as they relate to loving others. Think of each stage as a schoolroom in which you learn to love more openly and with greater kindness:
- Brahmacharya ashram – In this stage, you prepare for love and...
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Love teaches about full freedom from each other.