September 7, 2013

ISIQ-0246

 

“Love one another and you will be happy. It’s as simple and as difficult as that.” – Michael Leunig

Today’s IQ is dedicated to some dear friends of mine – James and Daynor – who have recently become engaged to be married, and last night celebrated this fact at the Bondi Icebergs. (Jimmy & Daynor, you guys rock. Love you both heaps :) )

For the last few years I’ve been in the habit of making custom cards for birthdays, Mother’s/Father’s day, and special events like engagements. So it was that I found this quote by famed Australian artist and cartoonist Michael Leunig. (Two for one! An engagement card, and a perfect IQ quote… score!)

The fact that the quote is such a closely held belief of mine – paralleled by John Lennon’s “All you need is love / Love is all you need” lyrics – is serendipitous. The side-note that Leunig is also a depression-sufferer makes his work resonate even more deeply with me.

One of the beauties of this quote (and there are many) is its broad application to any situation where you interact with other people. Another is the acknowledgement that love, while deliciously simple (and very important) also requires effort – hence “difficult”. I’ve frequently said to people:

The path to an awesome life is very simple. It is rarely easy, but it is always simple. – Tweetable

The last beauty about this quote I will mention here, is this: In this quote, as in life generally, the word love is a verb.

We frequently misunderstand love, using the word as a noun – something fixed, static, objectified. However, it is when we consider love as a verb – an action we take, a behaviour that informs our choices – that love comes to life, and actively works to make us happy and bring happiness to others.

Do me a favour. If love is what you seek, give love. Love yourself, your life, your friends, your partner, your children. Actively love them. Don’t sit around waiting for it to show up; create it and help it flourish!

The awesome, physics-defying thing about love is that the more you create, the more there is. It is not a finite resource, but rather a beautiful gift we can create from thin air by simply acting with love in our lives.

It’s no coincidence that I sign these messages “With love”… because I constantly strive to add it to every aspect of my life, and yours.

With love,
Israel. xo

 

PS I delivered a webinar yesterday about “How to stay positive when you’re doing it tough in business.” It was quite well received, and a lot of fun for me to produce. If you’re interested, jump over here and have a look. Among other things, I speak in it about the value of hugs – which is why my signoff also always includes a kiss and a hug (xo) at the end. There – now you know why I signoff the way I do. :)

 

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