The Divine Path Back To Unconditional Love

Recently, I was meditating on a deeply personal situation — one that stirred up waves of anger and resentment, even bordering on hatred and bitterness. Then I received an insight from spirit that stopped me in my tracks. It was one of those profound moments when time stands still and sacred truth illuminates your heart.

“Never forget the Golden Rule,” spirit said. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Do not do to others what you do not want done to you. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Suddenly I realized that the deeper truth of holding unconditional love in your heart. It’s a universal spiritual principle because it works both ways! You would never, ever want the same hatred or anger that you direct at others, to be directed at you.

Now let me be honest. My anger this time wasn’t just outward to others. It also turned inward. It was a growing dark, toxic presence in my heart and mind.

Life has been hard lately. Too many people I know have died far too young. Watching my beloved partner in a so-called “medical facility” that should not be allowed to take care of anyone, especially our elders. Almost losing him. Being emotionally and financially drained by someone I trusted. The exhausting noise of political chaos.

It has been one thing after another, piling up until I reached a boiling point. I began to ask the big, painful question: Why? Why all this suffering? Why now? Why me? And I wasn’t just angry at the world — I was angry at myself. Angry at Source, Spirit, God. Angry at the seeming cruelty of it all.

The most memorable people in your life will be the ones who loved you when you were not very lovable. Remember this, and return the favor ~ H. Jackson Brown Jr.

I felt myself hardening.

Then something inside me — my gut, my higher self, this wise inner compass — told me to stop. Like, really stop! Not in a dramatic or defiant way, but in a deep, soul-level invitation to stop and listen.

“Meditate on what’s eating you right now,” my inner voice said.

So, I did. And what came to me was humbling. It was time to stop feeding the storm.

I realized that because I hadn’t let go of situation A, it was bleeding into situation B, which opened the door to situation C, and so on. Like a domino effect of emotional clutter, each building on the unresolved pain of the last. In many ways, I was creating the very vortex that I felt engulfed by.

No matter how much we have been hurt, no matter how much disappointment we have suffered, no matter how much cruelty has been inflicted upon us, in the end it doesn’t matter. Vengeance and anger are not the truth of who we are inside, nor how we are meant to live our lives.

This realization reminded me of the true nature of my higher self, my spirit, my soul, the divine inner being hidden by layers of pain, frustration, anger and the heaviness of trying to carry what wasn’t mine to carry.

The way we treat people we strongly disagree with is a report card on what we’ve learned about love, compassion, and kindness ~ Marc Ian Barasch

A Painful, Vicious Cycle

You see, when we’re stuck in anger, resentment, and unforgiveness — whether it’s toward someone else, a situation, or even ourselves — it creates a wall around our spirit. A wall so high and thick that we can’t exist freely or move forward with hope, joy and confidence.

Instead, we carry it like a heavy burden, like a ton of bricks, into the next relationship, the next opportunity, the next meeting. It bleeds into everything — quietly, subtly, but powerfully. These unhealed wounds begin to shape how we see the world, how we respond, how we connect.

And the painful truth? If we don’t deal with it, that very pain can make us the source of the next hurt or disappointment. Not just a victim of the past, but a transmitter of it-sometimes to others, sometimes right back at ourselves. Too often the abused becomes the abuser.

In my experience, it’s most evident in relationships — whether romantic, familial, friendship, or professional. We may not realize it at first, but that unresolved anger or resentment begins to reverberate. When someone new does something that reminds us of the old wound, we react not just to the present moment, but with the full weight of the past behind it. And suddenly the reaction is bigger than the event. Or worse, we find ourselves unconsciously mirroring the behavior that originally hurt us. A painful, vicious cycle.

When we allow our hearts to lean toward hatred — even for a moment  — it begins to shut us down. We can feel it, that subtle turning inward, that dimming of our light. That’s not the energy of Spirit. That’s not Source. That’s not who we really are.

Set an example. Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you — not because they are nice, but because you are ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie

The Golden Rule Of Love

The Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is a universal spiritual principle taught by countless enlightened figures throughout history.

Jesus Christ embodied this ethos in his teachings, advocating love and compassion for neighbors and even enemies. The Prophet Muhammad emphasized mercy and mutual respect, saying that true faith lies in loving for others what one loves for oneself.

The Buddha emphasized kindness and empathy, encouraging his followers to avoid harming others in ways that would cause them pain. Hindu teachings also emphasize the interconnectedness of all beings, reinforcing the idea of mutual respect. In Taoism, Lao Tzu teaches that we must consider our neighbor’s gain as our own gain, and our neighbor’s loss as our own loss.

Numerous spiritual leaders and philosophers echoed this profound wisdom. Guru Nanak of Sikhism advocated equality and selflessness in all interactions. Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, said, “And if your eyes are turned toward justice, choose for your neighbor what you choose for yourself.” Confucius framed this principle in the context of harmonious relationships, saying that we should never impose on others what we do not want for ourselves.

Do as you will, but harm no one. What you give will be returned to you threefold ~ Alice Hoffman

Forgiveness Is Self-Empowering

We are taught over and over again, in whispers and in waves, to love no matter what. But that doesn’t mean we become doormats or tolerate harm. Love doesn’t mean accepting bad behavior.

It means forgiving and choosing not to bear the pain any longer. It means walking away when we must, with grace and peace. It means sending love from afar and letting others walk their own path, live their own lessons. It’s not our job to fix them. Their journey is their own.

The moment we say from our heart, mind and soul, “I forgive them for what they have done. I send love. And I choose now to move forward for my own healing and growth,” something sacred happens. That moment is our own release from prison, our liberation from darkness. That moment is our reclaiming of our divine energy and power. And from there — without looking back, without doubting our choice — we begin again. Stronger. Lighter. More aligned.

A moment of hate can devastate a lifetime of work, whereas a moment of love can break barriers that took a lifetime to build ~ Nelson Mandela

My Journey Back To Love

So, today I followed spirit’s advice. I meditated. I breathed into the pain. I brought it out into the open, not to dwell in it, but to transform it.

I started with the most important place I could: myself. I forgave myself. I forgave the world. I forgave those who didn’t know the impact they were having. And I softened. Today I changed my perspective.

And now everything is different. The problematic circumstances have not magically disappeared, but my energ, my inner lens, has shifted. The grip of pain and anger has loosened. My heart is calmer, warmer. My soul is steadier. I feel myself again.

Sometimes we get so busy helping others, holding space, offering guidance, and being the strong one that we forget to turn inward and follow the wisdom we so easily share with others. Today was my reminder. My day to sit in silence and listen to the whisper of spirit. And it changed me.

If you’re carrying anger or resentment or hurt that’s weighing you down, I see you. I feel you. And I invite you to stop. To listen. To forgive — starting with yourself. You don’t have to carry it anymore. You don’t have to let it define your future.

You are allowed to heal. You are allowed to be happy and at peace. And you are allowed to move forward with grace and confidence.

Your soul knows the way back to your heart. Trust it.