How to let go and love EVERYONE

First and foremost, this is NOT an anti-hippy thread.

One thing I've noticed about some hippies, peaceniks, and in myself, there's occasionally a twinge of hypocracy in some people's love-everyone belief system.

Here's what I'm talking about:

"I love EVERYONE!!!!!!"​

(except Bush, his administration, conservatives, facists, those stupid preps, racists, corporate CEOs, neo-nazis, KKK members, narrow-minded Christians. . .)​

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I've just seen this kind of idea with a peacenik I know, and realised how hypocrytical it is, and how often I've behaved similarly. I'm trying to work at being better at really loving everyone, even if I don't agree with them. After all, they're living beings just like everyone else. I think I'm a person deserving of love, but what makes me so special? Why can't everyone be loved?​

Confucious, Jesus, the Beatles, and many, many other people have pointed out that "love is all you need". It's mind-boggling how long it takes for something so simple to sink in. ​

So, I'm trying to work at being better at loving everyone. Anyone have any advice? Want to join in my quest? Maybe we could start some kind of a therapy group.​

"Hi, I'm Sorcha, and I walked away from a stupid argument today." ​

 

my opinion is that hate isnt always hate, occasionally hate is just the absence of love... it sounds dumb right? it is in human nature to be angry at people, and also its not in human nature to love everyone either and anyone who says they love everyone is a liar. We all have imperfections, and to dislike a person is one of them that we all share universally, people lots of times say "Stop the hate! stop the hate!" maybe we dont need to stop the hate, but we need to start the love... our world always seems to point out all of our differences to everyone, what seperates us, very seldom does our world ever point out our similarites and what brings us together as people. we need to put more emphisis on what we have in commone so we can celebrate, and put a damper on what our differences are and create less war

 

^i agree! i said that once somewhere, it's not about stopping the hate, its about spreading the love

 

So, I'm trying to work at being better at loving everyone. Anyone have any advice? Want to join in my quest? Maybe we could start some kind of a therapy group.​

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that would mean there would be like people there huh yuck ! no thanx​

 

I agree it does sound hypocritical, and to tell you the truth I doubt whether you will find anyone out there who does love everybody, whether they call themselves a hippie or not.

Did the hippies of the 60's really love everyone? No! Personally I don't believe it's possible, because we are all human and hence all imperfect beings. But it's a great principle and I hope you manage to find that place.

 

Love is important it needs to be spread to everybody.

 

It's a lofty ideal, I know, loving everyone. Sort of like (well, a lot like) working to achieve world peace. . .

*gets destracted by LoveFest's dangerously fuckable Paul pic. Eyes slip out of focus and drool starts to come out of corner of mouth...*

. . .But what's wrong in TRYING to be someone who contributes to something positive? Sure, loving EVERYONE is pretty damn hard, but it's better to shoot for it instead of slumping into an 'it's-impossible-I-can't-do-it-waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah' mindset.

One thing that has really helped me was this movie called "house of fools", a Russian forgin flick about a group of patients in a Russian mental hospital. The patients are left to fend for themselves during a border squabble between Russia and one of it's neighbors sometime in the 90's. The point of the story was that everyone, the soldiers, the docters, the patients, were all GOOD people really, just flawed. That's just how WE all are. Everyone. The world's a house of fools, and we are it's patents. We're all good people, just flawed in varying degrees.

 

Sounds like you and I are on exactly the same page.

 

You don't have to affectionate to everyone. You don't have to agree with what they say or believe, but you shouldn't show any hate towards a person.

 

i tried to love everyone, but its just not possible. i do give everyone atleast one chance tho, which is more than most people give.

 

*loving you all*

 

When I'm at my best, I try and allow all others to be their best. That's about as far as I get. The ideal though, sounds and feels like a good one. You won't find me disparaging it.

 

i never agreed to love everyone or everything. there are actually quite a few people and things i dislike immensely, no sane person can love everything.
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I don't hate, but sometimes i do talk alot of shit on the forums.

I really can't think of anyone one that I just really honestly hate, but there are a few people I can say I'd rather not spend my time with. Does that count?

 

WOOOHOOOO

I am ready to jump on the band wagon!!!!! I definitely agree with what you have said, turtlefriend, about the idea of loving everyone and yet still having a list of people you hate!!! And I can't say that I have been untouched by the same feelings, but I think it is very possible to reach the point where we love everyone. When I think about things that make me angry like the Bush Agenda and the War on Iraq and close minded people, I realize it's not the people I hate it's more the ideas that they uphold. My best friend is a very conservative Republican, but I love her! I always try to tell myself, respect others views don't be narrow minded like others tend to be. It's hard work. When some one tells me they support the way things are going in Iraq, my first tendency is to turn all red and try to make them see the light. Well, I have to train myself to not do that. Listen and except, you don't have to agree. I've been working on it awhile and well...slowly but surely it is coming along. Now that I've begun to understand that it's not the people, just views and beliefs it's easier to keep that loving vibe going. The goal of loving everyone is also more acheiveable when we think how precious life is! How absolutely amazing every single living thing can be! I think when we see people for a miracle it easier to love them, no matter what. So HURRAH, let's all jump on the train for loving people and show everyone how amazing it can be. Maybe we'll all set an example!

 

I agree respecting others' points of view is what we should all strive for.

 

Not love everything. Like "oh god, I LOVE the Iraqi war". I'm going for TRYING to love people by understanding that everyone is flawed, including myself, and I shouldn't hate people for their flaws because I wouldn't like people to hate me for mine. Or, at the minimum, respect their opinions, like purplesage said.

 

loving everyone is... why am i even doing this? do you people even read this? i know shit i'm 15 how do i expect to teach you people anything and even if you'd listen how do i know i'm right? ooh man... wish i could love myself...

 

i agree, u cannot love everyone. however everyone has redeeming qualities that you must resepct him or her for.

good vibes and acceptance are key. no one (with very few exceptions) deserves to feel judged, ugly, or ashamed of who they are. a simple smile or what's up, any kind of friendly gesture to a stranger, friend, or enemy is a way to spread the love.

let people dig what they dig, don't naysay about it. no one's right, no one's better. we're all one.

love creation.

peace

 

Why do you need to love everybody? You can't tell me you're really going to love the murderer who killed your family (obviously hypothetical). It's not even worth attempting to achieve. I can understand accepting everyone, but LOVING everyone? Pff, I don't think so. Just my opinion...