How do you put love into action?

I choose a gentle, but honest, approach initially. There are some who approach being loving with blunt honesty initially. What is your approach, and which approach do you prefer, to be approached with? (I know, that's a lot of approaching going on there)

The best definition of love I've ever heard is this:

From this perspective, it's a little easier to practice. My goal is to help other's be happy and free from suffering. The kicker is having the wisdom of how to do this correctly.

For example, I will clean up the kitchen for my wife without being asked. I do this so she can come home and relax instead of having to do it herself or feeling like she needs to ask me to do. It makes her happy. I WON'T clean up a meditation room even if the person tending it would be rather not do it. I'm not helping their freedom or happiness by taking that work from them. Everything is individual so it's tricky doing the right thing.

As far as how I like other's to approach it? That's a 64 million dollar question since I rarely receive any loving action without there being strings attached (which isn't love at all).

I agree Webgoji, there needs to be something about selflessness in the act of giving love, that makes it true love.

I practice at a volunteer center in my area. There is nothing comparable to the act of giving without expectation. In truth, it is not giving that I feel, but it is, instead, repaying.

In your definition of love, I see the way you are giving, selflessly, to others. What I don't see is the way you are giving love to yourself, except, that it is in the act of giving love to others, that you believe you are giving love to yourself. This I can see.

My understanding of love is very simple and I believe you are practicing it in your own way.

My idea of love, at this point in time, is to understand that the harm I do to others, is the harm I do to myself, but even this, in itself, is not enough. To make this act of loving complete, I must do one more thing. I must repay, at a minimum, one, kind and unselfish act for another each day. The best days are when I can accomplish that all day.

The comment of understanding the need to allow others and give them space to perform their own loving acts shows deep perception and awareness.

I wish the best to you. You will receive some love today. You will do so, by your very own action, even if it may appear selfish to others, by giving the love you give.

"From this perspective, it's a little easier to practice. My goal is to help other's be happy and free from suffering. The kicker is having the wisdom of how to do this correctly." quote Webgoji

Yes, you are right, the kicker is having the wisdom of how to help others be happy and free from suffering correctly. One can end up getting used and unappreciated and a good kind heart can become something another person becomes "entitled" to.

The act of becoming a wounded healer is never what one sets out to accomplish but, I think, the feeling that one has the ability to offer healing to another stems from a place of feeling strength in oneself and their beliefs. No one is 'entitled' to anothers' love and yet, everyone is worthy of being loved. The most healthy healers understand they are not invincible themselves and need to practice the same self care they advise.

What I don't see is the way you are giving love to yourself, except, that it is in the act of giving love to others, that you believe you are giving love to yourself.

A further comment on this:

If it is my intention to do the least amount of harm to others as possible, and in the process, myself, in what way could I accomplish this?

In choosing being loving to others, I feel that I am being the least harmful to them as possible, and, in choosing to give love to others, I am being the least harmful to myself in the process.

The 'kicker' here, is, knowing what loving action I need to take at any point in time. At times, no action, is the action that needs to be taken, at other times, knowing specifically what action to take is what's most important. The act of being loving is never a wrong action, however, at times, even the best intentions have harmful results. Love will still repair that.

Preferably, anonymously. But this post will take much of that away....and I'm concerned people who don't like me here will use it against me as though I'm boasting. But maybe it will help someone else find a new way to show love.

I would rather give out of God's abundance than sit and hoard in fear... so the times I am feeling most in "need" of something materialistic is the time I give MORE to others... keeps me humble.

When I give money to a non-profit I try to do so without their knowing who gave it. I give money to the beggars on the street, and I do not judge them. So nay-sayers remark that they might be using it for drugs or alcohol. That is not mine to judge. What they do with it is between them and God. And, btw, who knows that if I were on the street begging I wouldn't need some alcohol to ease the pain??? I've seen many in the rain, in the heat, and some even have a little act or song for me... what's that small amount of money to me compared to what they are going through for it? (And I have found that on good street corners in Miami area one can make $300 a day!) More power to them.

I also give lunches... I don't eat fast food but often go into a drive thru and grab whatever sandwiches are on special ($1 ones are the best!) and then I give them to those on the street corners.... I usually drive around the noon hour

I volunteer.
I have 40 years with the Girl Scouts of America (though haven't actively done much these last 2 years with anyone..) And nearly 40 with the Boy Scouts of America. I help churches when they have special needs for filling their pantries, holding a weeklong camp etc. I am also a CERT volunteer, a Team leader for my community. (Community Emergency Response Team) While my entire area in my community is several hundred homes, the one I live in is 110 homes...and I put out information house to house regarding disaster planning and especially now, hurricane preparedness. I hope this month's contact I'll be able to give them more info on tho local church food pantries that if they are short on food before a storm that THAT is the time to ask for help...before a storm... stuff like that.

I pray for my neighbors, and wave and say how do to them. If I have extra plants or fruit, I share. I give books and videos on educational or fun things. I mow the next door neighbor's front yard if it needs it when I do mine (he has a new baby and an electric push mower...I have a lawn tractor.)

I also volunteer as a mentor on another website...though I monitor largely the debate and discussion forums, if I see anyone on site showing frustration with posting or chatting, I can work with them privately to make their experience more enjoyable....something I don't have to do...

I try to smile more and listen... and if in an interesting conversation, one I'm passionate about, I work at speaking only 1/4 of the time I have something to say! Yes, I count to be sure I'm not hogging the conversation! I try to compliment each person I see in the day about something...and be real about it...even if someone, say, is a church member who hates me (gasp, yes there are those here too.)

I do try to remember that everyone has their own baggage. It comes out when posting and while the reasons for the way they post won't say it, it's still there. I also think that not allowing everyone to meander in a field that I might have a way out of for them, is showing love. At least knowing of a choice is something I would want, myself.

Doesn't sound like me? Sigh. Then you really don't know me, either.

i used to volunteer at a few places, if i had the money myself i would donate more to my church and the poor. i think giving to the poor is a great thing to do.

Thanks for this JD, there were some things I might have never known about you if you hadn't shared. I hear you, sharing is risky, scary, exciting, and, it can be very revelationary.

I don't get the feeling you're bragging. You answered my question and I'm glad you gave your input. Those are some very impressive ways to help others, give your love.

I know the conflict you mentioned about giving money to the beggars. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. It depends on a variety of things. I won't argue the pros and cons here, you've heard it all before.

I've been poor at different times in my life avlady.

People think and act according to their own individual nature.
If a person truly has love in their heart for others they do not have to "try" and love others.
As they go about their lives they naturally are aware of the needs of others around them and give or not give according to their own wisdom.

People with love in their hearts do not care how they look in the eyes of others.
They have nothing to prove.

It is the self-centered, egotistical lovers of themselves who go about their lives seeking honor, prestige, position, respect, praise and admiration from others.

It is important that we examine our motives with fearless honesty.

Love is an awareness. Love is a state of being. It is a state that one comes into when their understanding and awareness is in line with Love.

The purpose of this life is to become as Love.

Love is the general and all encompassing law of everything.
Love is the essence of reality.

When we conform to the laws of Reality/Love we are whole and well.
When we do not understand and fail to follow the laws we suffer.


Love is the state of wholeness, harmony, unity and perfection.

Love it turns out is All.

Yes, love is God and we are in the process of being created in God's image.

(To put it one way)

I have been poor, rich, poor and now doing just fine....

I find thinking out of the box the most fun... going to the thrift stores and buying the dirt-cheap bike helmets and giving them to the kiddoes riding without them in the neighborhood (against the law to ride without)... or stocking up on blankets from same thrift stores (or even a big box store when they are really on sale) and then giving them out to the homeless in the winter (you can find them by the smoke from their fires in the woody areas...)

There are some ways that don't cost... check with the Salvation Army or other soup kitchen...sometimes they have little invites for a free meal... when I was active with the Orange Bowl Committee I would "earn" free meals at Boston Market and I'd save them up and hand them out at bus stops or seating areas outside the big box stores (when homeless can fit in and sit without being hassled)...

Obviously I believe that love must be put into action to mean anything... even though I will not discount prayer! If that's all you can do, then do it! Pray for people like me to find more ways and abilities to help others... pray for those who need to find hope.

A very good way to put it