What is Unconditional Love?

   The beginning of Love is to let those we love perfectly be themselves, and not make them fit our own image. Otherwise we only love the reflection of our image we created for them, and not the person we should accept them as. Basically what I'm saying is loving a person despite their faults and hang ups, unconditionally loving that person no matter what. Not forcing or molding them into "the best fit" for you. The problem MOST people have is trying to make people be something or someone they aren't because we feel it's "for their own good". Realistically people see you differently then you see yourself. That can be something good or bad; but it's up to you to accept how others view you or how you would like to be viewed.
    
    I use to be the kind of person that would conform myself to what other people viewed me as. I felt like if I just acted the way other people thought I should I would be accepted. People would like me and I would be liked by everyone; however, I thought wrong. The thing about people is they don't even fully accept and appreciate who they are, so how could I ever believe they would accept me even after I conform myself to their ways? I read somewhere that when we view ourselves in the mirror our eyes makes us believe that we are at least 5X more attractive then we truly are. It's mind boggling how our brain can make us think or even believe things that we wouldn't normally believe otherwise.

   Love is something that can never truly be explained even if we had ten lifetimes to figure it out. It's a concept that has endless views depending on the individual who "believes" in it. You have some who believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder; and if such things are true, why can't we just accept certain things for what they are no matter what we ourselves believe? Naturally we want to fix what we believe is broken, that's just in our nature to do so. Sometimes it's just best to take a step back; and allow those we claim to love figure out who that person is they see in the mirror everyday, instead of trying to tell them who they should be looking for.

   It's in our nature to do what we believe is best for those we love, but do we truly know? Is it that we are giving them that "sound advice" we believe they need to hear? Or are we just trying to transform that person into someone that best appeases us? Whatever the case may be, allow that person to make their own decisions. In the end; they are the ones who have to live with what they see in the mirror everyday, no matter what you believe they should see.

   I honestly think that we ALL need to take a step back, and really ask ourselves if we are fully aware of what unconditional love is. Love is more then just an expression, concept or even an idea, it's the single driving force that can make you do just about anything. Love is the most powerful drug, and once you've gotten a taste of it; it's hard to kick the habit. Too much of anything is bad, but not when it comes to love. Remember to love a person for who they are, and not for who you want them to be. Learn to accept somone the way you want to be accepted; and once you understand that, you are truly one step away from unconditionally loving even yourself...

Self awareness of internal happiness

    People always try to find happiness in things and people; which is exactly why they wind up never being happy in the first place. True happiness comes from realizing all that you're blessed with, not with what's missing. At the end of the day be thankful for what is and what's going to be, NOT with what's gone and the lack thereof...Realistically that's easier said then done but it can be implemented if you work hard at making it happen. What people don't realize is just like loving and going after what you want in life; it takes some sort of continuous work. That same formula should be applied to being happy. It's not as easy as people believe it is either; but like all things, it can be done.

   Self awareness is important, when you're aware you're educating yourself. Knowledge is the key to better understanding; it's the key to open the doors of success. With much success comes some sort of knowledge to keep it going. Now what I said originally still stands because you have to always work to stay happy. It's not allowing anyone or anything to make you depressed or even miserable. I for one believe that mantras; when executed effectively, allow you to believe in yourself and the preservation of your own happiness. NO ONE, and I mean no one can truly make you happy until you are comfortable being happy with and for yourself.

  I'm going to leave you with this, you can never make someone believe in your visions if you yourself don't believe in them first. With that being said, your happiness is just that important. Always take time to work on yourself and what's best for YOU. Success doesn't happen over night, it comes when your one thousand failures are worth it; from self awareness of your true potential, through knowledge and understanding of failure. Believing in yourelf is only part of wanting happiness, happiness comes when you believe it's worth having. 
So remember to be happy, because you are definitely deserving of it...