More powerful than hatred, revenge or anger, love is a force that heals everyone involved. In today’s fast paced world, the power of love has been underestimated.

Love is a dazzling, intriguing mixture of caring, inner joy and expansiveness. While good health habits are important to staying healthy, being loved and giving love are just as important.

The edict “Love your neighbour as you love yourself” is more than just a moral mandate; it is a psychological and social mandate.

In order to lead an enriched and fulfilled life, we need to live with compassion, we need to care and we need to strengthen our ability “to love the love in everything.”

Love is the divine energy that runs through all of us. It is a powerful force of healing. Reaching out to touch someone’s hand or putting an arm around someone’s shoulders has an overpowering effect and is an amazing act of self-care. Behaving kindly and showing compassion passes the energy of love to others.

The power of love becomes even more profound if it is bestowed on people you least want to – your interfering next door neighbour, your ill-tempered boss, your grouchy maid, your spoilt nephew.

Sending love in any situation, irrespective of the fact whether the person you are sending it to deserves it or not, can give you an immense feeling of satisfaction.

This week, challenge yourself to spread the message of love to people who most need it.

Learn to explore the values of extending this powerful emotion beyond your primary relationships to other areas and people in your life.

Remember, love is not primarily a relationship to a specific person; it is an attitude, an orientation of character, which determines the relatedness of a person to the world as a whole, not towards one object of love.

This week, say to yourself, “I love me”, “I love you”, “I love the world”, “I love life.”

Reflect for a moment. In what specific ways can you become more loving and compassionate to others?

Ask yourself, “Is there someone who needs my love?

Look for instances around you where you can send your gifts of love, in your family, in your neighbourhood, in your work place, in your city. The possibilities are endless.

Try smiling at strangers, try seeing things from the other person’s point of view. Offer a kind word or advice to a colleague who is looking downcast, even though she drives you crazy at work.

Practice saying “I love you” to those who are close to you. Don’t take them for granted.

As you constantly spread good will and love around, note how good it will make you feel about yourself.

Giving love is a great ego booster. Spread it around.