Love thy Neighbor
Disease will never overwhelm you if your determination to be healthy is strong enough.
Share your experience about your disease with others who also suffer from the disease and encourage them with love and be their role model with your journey to become disease free.
Social connectedness, generosity, and gratitude are central to our well-being.
Human connection is the key to our health and happiness. This is a universal truth. A wide range of recent studies have found that prosocial behaviors such as generosity, altruism, compassion, and empathy foster the well-being of all parties involved. Even from a purely Machiavellian standpoint, “doing unto others as you would have them do unto you” is in your own best interest.
Homo sapiens are social creatures who have evolved so successfully because of our ability to cooperate and work together. Unfortunately, modern life has short circuited our biological tendencies in many ways. However, through conscious efforts and daily mindfulness exercises that foster "loving thy neighbor as thyself”, I’m optimistic that we can reduce the current levels of hatred and violence between “ingroups” and “outgroups.”
Living By the Golden Rule Is the Key to Creating Peace on Earth
A December 2015 study from the University of Zurich, “How Learning Shapes the Empathic Brain,” found that just a few small acts of generosity by a stranger from an outside group created neurobiological changes in the brain that made individuals more empathetic to all members of the outside group. In a press release, the researchers said,
“At the beginning of the study, the stranger's pain triggered a weaker brain activation in the participant than if a member of his or her own group was affected. However, only a handful of positive experiences with someone from the stranger's group led to a significant increase in empathic brain responses if pain was inflicted on a different person from the out-group. The stronger the positive experience with the stranger was, the greater was the increase in neuronal empathy.”
In 2012, researchers from New Zealand published a study, “A 32-Year Longitudinal Study of Child and Adolescent Pathways to Well-Being in Adulthood,” in the Journal of Happiness Studies. For this study, researchers analyzed health and happiness data for 804 people over the course of 32 years.
The research team found that positive social relationships in childhood and adolescence are key to adult well-being. Social connectedness in adolescence was primarily demonstrated by social attachments (parents, peers, school, confidant) and participation in extracurricular youth groups and sporting clubs.
In a press release, lead author Danilo Garcia said, "Just as the Beatles sang, most people understand that money can't buy you happiness or love. But even if we as individuals can understand the importance of close and warm relationships on a social level, it isn't certain that everyone is aware that such relationships are actually necessary for our own personal happiness."
Here’s What it Really Means to Love Thy Neighbor
Before you can love your neighbor, you have to love yourself. To love yourself, you first have to be compassionate, kind, generous, forgiving and a service to yourself. Self loving is a lifestyle, as is healthy living. There is a saying - "fake it, until you make it".
I say: "Practice it, until you've perfected it!"
It is important to understand that loving your neighbors is not just a simple task. Instead, it requires your entire self to be selfless. It requires you to show compassion, kindness, forgiveness, and provide service and meet needs to and for your neighbors.
To honestly love your neighbors, you must give…
Compassion: Compassion is an action, not simply a sympathetic feeling. When you are compassionate, you are there for your neighbors, regardless of what he/she/or they are going through. You lend a hand, offer an embrace, and an open ear.
Kindness: You never know what is going on in someone else’s life. In today’s world, we live behind closed doors, creating the reality we want on social media while living the reality we have within our own private boundaries. Be kind. Go above and beyond what is expected of you to show a softer side; to show love. After all, the person you may think doesn’t need it may need your kindness most of all.
Sharing: As quickly as we receive something, it can be taken away. Our blessings are not ours to hoard and indulge in. They are meant for us to share. If you have something and you see someone else doesn’t, then share. This includes your faith.
Forgiving: Who are we to not forgive others? I know, it is hard. Of course it is – that is why forgiveness is so great and powerful. If it were easy, it wouldn’t be as meaningful, would it?
Service: Finally, serve your neighbors. Allowing yourself to put humility into practice is what happens when you serve your neighbors. Let them know that you are there for them if they need anything – then, truly be there. Whether it is babysitting, a car ride, cleaning, or even a simple cup of sugar.
Who Are Your Neighbors?
It may be a good idea to clarify the term neighbors. The first thing that comes to mind for most of us is the next-door neighbor or the family that lives across the street, right? Well, they sure are your neighbors, especially in the literal meaning of the word. But, loving your neighbors means loving those you are in community with and those you aren’t. Those who live in your neighborhood and those who don’t. Those who work with you, go to school with you or even serve you at your local coffee shop.
Loving thy neighbor does not stop with those right around your residence. Your neighbor is everyone, including the least of these.
Conclusion: Learning to Love Yourself Is Central to Loving Thy Neighbor
Madonna once said, “Until you learn to love yourself, it’s impossible to love someone else.” I agree. As a teenager, I hated myself. The self-hatred made me a misanthrope who despised humanity. During adolescence, I struggled with overwhelming self-loathing and shame. I know from first hand experience that learning to let go of the grudge I held against myself was a fundamental first step for having the ability to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” If you hate yourself, odds are it will be easier to hate your neighbor, too.
Go on, spread some love.