About Love Podcast

This is Part 3 of our 3-Part series on learning to develop greater love, and it’s all about learning to love for the right reasons! You see, too often we “love” from a place of fear. We’re worried about whether or not our affection or kindness will be returned. And if it isn’t received and returned in the way we planned, we see that as a reflection of our value and worth as a human being, and may even begin to shut down our attempts at “love” because it’s just too risky. We withdraw, and healthy vulnerability comes to an end. What if we could love from a place of wholeness – not because we’re seeking wholeness in someone’s reaction to our love, but because our love is a reflection of a wholeness we already possess and embody? What if the only side-effect we sought from a loving interaction was the inner-joy one feels when they personally embody this all-conquering virtue? This is the greatest secret. It turns out, loving from a place of wholeness is its own reward. It’s what Mara and I call “Love for the Sake of Loving,” and we hope today’s episode helps you take a positive step towards healthier love in your life and relationships. Your biggest supporters, Danny + Mara

Today’s holiday bonus episode comes from one of the more meaningful blog posts I’ve written, “A New Way Of Giving.”  I try to share it every year as we approach this season that focuses a bit more on service, kindness, and love towards others. The question of this episode is – what do you do when you come across someone asking for money? Do you try to quickly judge the sincerity of the request before giving? Do you avoid altogether? Do you give food instead of money? Do you give to organizations instead of people? Deciding how to handle this question led to one of the more meaningful shifts in the way I deal with strangers, especially those in need, and to some of the most touching moments of human connection and vulnerability. This episode is about sharing how my thoughts have evolved on this subject over the years, and why I now do something that I would have thought was unthinkable before….I try to give to all who ask of me. But in doing so, I do my best to make sure that money isn’t the only thing they receive….find out what I mean by listening to the episode. And if you like it, please consider sharing this episode and help spread some holiday joy. Much Love, Danny

This is Part 2 of a 3-Part series on learning to develop greater love, and it’s all about learning how to confront FEAR! Talk about a 4-letter “F” word…fear is one of the more common emotions we battle when someone or something we look to for a sense of security doesn’t come through for us. Our brain and our body almost immediately go to a place of fear: fear that we’re not good enough, fear that we’re not lovable, fear that we’ll never be happy or at peace without this person treating us the way we hoped or this circumstance working out the way we planned. The fear we feel is unique to each of us, and it’s always a manifestation of what we most value in life, whether that is companionship, financial security, being respected, thought of as beautiful or kind, or whatever else we put up on a pedestal and look to as a source of worth. In today’s episode, I share what fears came to my mind when my first marriage started to crumble, and what it means to challenge those fears and return to place of (and belief in) inherent worth. Fear is a total vulnerability and connection killer. Which is why, if we’re truly intent on developing greater love, we have to practice the skills that will allow us to let go of that fear, and return to capital “L” Love. So, have a listen to the episode, and let me know in the comments what fear you are going to challenge, and one way that you can do that. Much Love, Danny

Today’s episode is Part 1 of a 3-Part series on developing greater love. And it starts with a question: Do you desire to live with your whole heart, to have more courage, and to connect more vulnerably and lovingly with other people? We absolutely believe that growth towards this goal is possible, and starts with realizing that healthy love isn’t simply some gift that you’re born with or natural talent, it’s a skill that you acquire. And the most important place to begin your quest is to realize that 1) you have inherent worth, and 2) that you are powerful and can change. Today we talk about why those two mindsets are so important, and how to begin proactively developing them.

Welcome to the first episode of the About Love Podcast! In this inaugural episode, we lay the foundations for what we mean when we use the word “Love” in our writings and workshops. It’s a tricky word, and means different things to different people. And sometimes what someone calls “Love” is actually just dysfunction, masquerading as affection or compassion or intimacy. If we want to be capable of experiencing something truly beautiful in our life and our relationships, we have to make sure we understand the lower and higher forms of its expression, and actively develop the kind of love that can transform our lives. To explore that in this episode, we look at Greek words that influence our cultural views of the word “Love,” and talk about the lower forms of Love like the unchosen lust and passion of Eros; the dutiful and familial love of Storge; and the self-centered version of self-love we all know as Narcissism. We also discuss the higher forms of love like the loyalty, vulnerability, and true friendship that springs from Philia; the healthy version of self-love and inner confidence called Philautia (that actually increases your ability to love others); and finally Agape – the universal and unconditional love sometimes translated as charity. These higher forms of love are something we all need to develop and seek to master, since they represent the Love that allows us to experience joy and peace in any moment, no matter what is going on. Not only that…developing the higher forms of love actually directs the lower forms of love into their healthiest expressions and helps us eliminate dysfunctional tendencies in our relationships and our family.