"We are not held back by the love we didn't receive in the past, but by the love we're not extending in the present." - Marianne Williamson
While I am a fan of Marianne Williamson, I am not entirely sure if I agree 100% with this statement. On the one hand, it is true that the love that we extend in the present is critical to the life that we live today. If I was unwilling to give love to those around me, I would live a very miserable life, because few people want to love someone who doesn't in some way reciprocate. When we are able to give love, we most likely will receive love in return. As of late, this has been my experience. I am learning to both give and receive love, and it's a wonderful thing.
On the other hand, however, there is a place where I take slight issue with the above statement. The ability to give love is assumed, but I know for a fact that it's not always as easy as that. In fact, the love that you didn't receive in the past has an effect on your ability to give love in the present. If that weren't the case, the present probably wouldn't be an issue. Without learning how to properly give love in the past, it is hard to properly give love in the present, which will hold you back in a sense.
So while I understand the sentiment - that we are more in control of our lives and present circumstances than we sometimes give ourselves credit for - it's important to recognize the place of the past in our lives. But we should never let the past be the dictator of our future. It is important to recognize what the past has taken from/given to you, but it's up to you in the present to find healing for those things and move forward in a more positive direction.
On the other hand, however, there is a place where I take slight issue with the above statement. The ability to give love is assumed, but I know for a fact that it's not always as easy as that. In fact, the love that you didn't receive in the past has an effect on your ability to give love in the present. If that weren't the case, the present probably wouldn't be an issue. Without learning how to properly give love in the past, it is hard to properly give love in the present, which will hold you back in a sense.
So while I understand the sentiment - that we are more in control of our lives and present circumstances than we sometimes give ourselves credit for - it's important to recognize the place of the past in our lives. But we should never let the past be the dictator of our future. It is important to recognize what the past has taken from/given to you, but it's up to you in the present to find healing for those things and move forward in a more positive direction.
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