Seeking to nurture others? The key is recognizing that you are doing it already. By recognizing it, you are already part of the solution. You have already begun the process of nurturing. All you need to do is make the next step in the action of taking that next step.
You already know what you want and need. You know what is important to you. Why not share these same values with others; and why not be the change you seek to nurture?
I am still convinced that all people have a spirit, soul and mind that are good and pure. I believe that there is a divine connection between God (source energy) and all other reality. In fact, many people feel this way. And if they were to step outside themselves (spiritually, mentally and emotionally), they would see that there are others with the same thoughts and emotions as themselves; people with whom they could communicate and become spiritually aware partners.
This is what has happened to me: I am sharing what I know with others. I find myself attracting others to me and am receiving the same in return. I no longer fear to have contact with people; and I don't shy away from having to teach, share or listen.
It has not always been this way. When I was a child, my siblings and I used to play "the Game," a game where we all sat and acted out a scenario in dramatic fashion, pretending to be the star characters. I was the villain, my sister the heroine, and my brother the friend. Sometimes I acted like the villain and at other times I would pretend to be the hero.
My earliest memory of acting out scenarios like this involved pretend play in the presence of an imaginary friend. If you had to ask me, I can still remember the look on my mother's face when she found me in the kitchen one night after a particularly long day at school and realized I was hiding behind the cupboard.
The look of utter helplessness on her face was so genuine that I longed to emulate that expression of love towards others. So I would hide behind a cupboard until she let me come out. Now I cannot remember ever getting into a conversation with her, but I still do find her amazing.
If you look back through your life, you may find you have done similar things. You may have shared a hug or kissed a boy, told a joke or told a story. All of these acts were acts of nurturing in some small way.
As I look back, I realize that many of my closest relationships were forged by nurturing other people's spirits. When you are in a place where you are willing to give love and make someone feel good, you naturally draw them into you. It does not take much, nor does it have to be anything extravagant. It only takes a hug, a smile or a sincere "Good morning, how are you?" Sometimes all it takes is a few words of appreciation.
Now I know that some people may think that the pursuit of self-love for a better world is silly, overly dramatic or vain. That is actually far from the truth. To nurture others is really to honor the person in a most positive light. And there is nothing more beautiful and rewarding than that.
So as I seek to nurture others, I am also honoring myself at the same time. I have learned that if you tell a person they are valued and important, that the value and importance will spill out onto the person themselves. It may not happen immediately, but it will happen, over time, as you allow yourself to be supported, loved and nurtured.
My mission today has been to remind myself that I have always wanted to be self-loveful. I have always wanted to give value and importance to those around me. I have always wanted to be kind and generous. I have always wanted to be appreciative. Now I can speak from this balance each and every day with those who matter to me.
In my opinion, that is the best gift I could ever give someone. Why not begin today in your own life? I want you to start with yourself. Allow self-love to be your first action. I know you will be so glad you did.