Journal Power: How to Stay in Love Forever

Ah Valentines Day, when love is everywhere!

I think it was on Facebook recently: someone reminding us that everyone should be in love at all times.

How is such a thing possible?

Most people have experienced that crazy, dreamy, brimming with happiness feeling of being in love – at least once in their life. There’s really nothing better. Lovers love everything; besides being deliriously overjoyed about their own situation, they gleefully share it all around as well.

Let’s take a closer peek at this.

1. Journal around the question, What exactly is that fabulous feeling of being in love? Maybe consider people you’ve loved and what drew you to them. Or just immerse your writing in the sensations: how love feels, how it causes you to think and act.
2. Write about the good things that characterize being in love; and also write about the not-so-good things (I’m so focused on loving that I can’t concentrate on my work, for instance).
3. Journal your image of a perfect love for you. What shape would such a love take and how would it change your life? Do you already have, or believe you’ll find such a love?

Then, knowing how and why you love loving, maybe it begins to come clear why it’s a good idea to stay in love all the time. But how to accomplish that?

Well, of course I don’t know. But I do know that just the idea makes me feel great. Go ahead, try it. Say to yourself: I want to stay in love always.

Then use your journal to locate your natural inner love impulses. What are the people or other species or things that you feel love for? How can you deepen the love you have for one or two of them? Dedicate to being and showing your love.

Notice, though we’re talking about romantic love, it doesn’t necessarily have to be for another person and it doesn’t have to lead to sex or marriage. Being in love is a distracted and delighted feeling, not a cultural norm. You can fall in love with a city, a faith, a garden, a dog, a dream.

The important thing is to consciously perpetuate that loving feeling. If you’re currently lacking it, try these ideas:

• Keep a gratitude journal. This is the speed track to identifying what you love and appreciating the presence of love in your life.
• Journal detailed descriptions. Dissect that gorgeous ocean view, that horrific train ride, that delicious breakfast. By journaling a description of something, you become intimate with it. If it’s a subject you find yourself coming back to, you may find yourself falling in love.
• Try coming at it from the opposite direction. Act as if you’re in love. Journal about your love, even though it’s imaginary. Begin to act towards the object of your love as if you are indeed smitten. It may not be long before you don’t have to act anymore. Love is self-generating that way!