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In today’s episode of Navigate the Day, I explore what it truly means to practice love—not the kind that depends on conditions or outcomes, but the kind that begins with giving. Inspired by Seneca’s words through Hecato, “If you would be loved, love,” I reflect on how love is not a transaction, but a practice—an act of strength, presence, and virtue.

Lately, I’ve noticed how easily I can celebrate the wins of others while struggling to do the same for myself. It’s far easier to root for someone else than to extend that same encouragement inward. That imbalance has forced me to look deeper at how I view love and connection—not as something to be earned, but as something to be expressed freely.

Practicing love, as the Stoics saw it, isn’t about chasing happiness or avoiding pain. It’s about showing up for others and ourselves with patience, honesty, and goodwill, even when it feels undeserved or uncomfortable. It means forgiving where we once judged, offering compassion where resentment once grew, and finding beauty in being part of something larger than our own struggles.

I’ve spent years trying to guard myself—hiding behind masks, withdrawing from others, and convincing myself that solitude was strength. But through reflection, I’m beginning to see that love, when practiced as a virtue, is not a weakness; it’s a way to align with what’s best in human nature. It connects us, heals us, and slowly teaches us to care again, even after disappointment or regret.

This episode is about rediscovering that love begins within—and how learning to give it first might just be the path to receiving it back in the most meaningful ways.

Thank you for listening and joining me on my journey of self-discovery!
Mediations and Prompts influenced from The Daily Stoic Books

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