The Opposite of Love is Fear

The Opposite of Love is Fear.

As I lay on my yoga mat during Annie Okerlin's iRest Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep) experience at Yogani Studios in Tampa, my meditative mind had a rush of insight.

Annie Okerlin, Studio Owner and Teacher at Yogani

iRest Yoga Nidra differs from normal meditation in that, the entire meditation process is designed to help you work through unresolved issues, deal with past trauma, and find calmness and clarity.  It is used at VA hospitals, military bases, with hospice, children, schools, you name it! iRest also helps with pain, anxiety, insomnia, PTSD, and more.  Strong stuff and really an amazing practice. If you have never tried it, I highly recommend you find a teacher near you.

iRest Yoga Nidra works for me because not only does it allow me to relax, quiet the mind, and find the present moment, but iRest Yoga Nidra also allows me to broaden my mind and, you know, deal with the ish that comes up. (Because none of us are perfect and we all have gunk we have to deal with.)

On Saturday's Yoga Nidra, Annie took us into inquiry of opposites.  While my intention centered on #PassLove and, as we embraced the opposite I knew, without a doubt, that the opposite of love is not hate.  The opposite of love is fear.

When people are unkind or hateful to others, it is because they feel uncomfortable, uneasy, frightened, insecure, and afraid.

To be more loving as a culture, to be more considerate of others, and to make a real difference in the world, we have to learn to be okay with fear.

To go, okay fear you are making me dislike this person, or feel uncomfortable, or feel vulnerable, or whatever the case may be.

And then just breathe into it. Regain the present moment. Reallllllly feel the fear, embrace the fear, go with the fear.

And then let the fear transform into something else.

Because, eventually, fear passes. And when we live with the uncomfortable, we can find the extraordinary that we never dreamed existed.

The next time you encounter hate, remember hate only is a by-product of fear.  And respond with the opposite emotion: LOVE.

#PassLove