About love, and how fear and ego can ruin it. How to overcome this harsh setback in love.
Great read, put on your e-reader, or read online (maybe weekly to remind yourself). It is worth it.
"Chapter 1 - Unbreak Your Heart
The disease of fear has ravaged society, and left millions desolate, lonely, in intense emotional pain -- and it's gathering momentum in the common mind of current thought. But the human heart will never give up on what it needs.
"Every man for himself" -- and by himself -- is the basic rule of society, but it violates the basic rule of the human heart. You can never get rid of your basic need for love, for relationship, for intimacy -- because of who you are. And you can never have peace, happiness, or fulfillment, until you validate the human heart, in yourself and others. So embrace the qualities your heart values -- your love, your innocence and generosity, your trusting nature, your so-called naiveness -- and become part of the solution, rather than part of the problem"
Chapter 2 - Take Off Your Fear-Colored Glasses
"Fear of love is rampant in the world today. But we're not averse to love. We really love love; and we do love. Our reaction against love is because we're afraid that we'll be disappointed or hurt. So we do self-protective things like pulling in our horns. Not taking "risks." Being selfish. Living alone.
But you see, the responses we consider self-protective actually hurt everybody, including ourselves. Others don't get what they need from us, and we don't get what we need back. These patterns need to reverse for life to work for anyone -- including ourselves. "
Chapter 3 - The World Social Fear Is Creating
"You never wanted to become less generous, less trusting, less openhearted -- your heart cried "NO!" But that's how you were told you should be, and you did your best to obey. So did millions of others. Now, we're reaping the results. Fear and distrust are destroying our world. Relationships are failing, people are suffering. Friend, your heart was right! Retrace your steps! Reclaim your loving, trusting nature. It's our only hope"
Chapter 4 - What's Really Killing Love
"Social fear has ravaged people's ability to get along, to the point where cooperation is no longer an option. But still, we need each other. Nothing can change that. So it's crucial to learn: how can we restore our lost social functionality?
For that, we must identify the real culprit, and stop it dead. This pivotal chapter apprehends love's killer -- egotism. Now, it's up to each person to choose. Which will you protect: ego, or everything your heart holds dear? Only one will survive."
Chapter 5 - Healthy Dependence and Independence
"Nowadays people take for granted that being independent is essential to being good, healthy, and strong. But the way we pursue independence -- and run from dependence -- is ruining our lives. We are weaker, less secure, less fully ourselves in the isolation we've created. We need to rethink everything society has taught us about independence and dependence, in order to reclaim the beautiful, health-giving INTERdependence that we all need"
Chapter 6 - How to Create Love That's Worth Living For
"Many people think that love and relationship should be easy, but experience proves different. Healthy relationships have requirements; you have to know what they are, and fulfill them, to succeed in love. But what are they? The popularly-available "wisdom" on the subject has let us all down. It's up to you, if you want to beat the odds. Leave the beaten track -- the ways ego recommends -- and do give love what it really takes. This chapter shows exactly how to have love worth living for"
Chapter 7 - Love Over Ego
"Within us, love and ego battle to control our lives. Our hearts long to surrender to love, but our egos resist love. Ego rightly fears its undoing in love. If we followed love's lead, love would become a mighty blaze and burn selfishness and separation to ashes.
If you want freedom to love and be yourself fully; if you want to put pain, loneliness, and fear behind you; turn away from ego, and side with love. Only then can your heart be fulfilled"