10/08/2026
SUBVERSIVE LOVE
From Brené Brown: "The bad news: Self-love is subversive in our culture. This process has to be a disciplined, daily practice.
The good news: We can do subversive. And, nothing/nobody can take away the power that comes from owning our stories."
Of course, I had to look up subversive: seeking or intended to subvert an established system or institution
Next, looked up subvert: undermine the power and authority of an established system or institution
[word nerd]
► Fascinating! Loving ourselves is defined as undermining the current culture.
What is the current culture, then? Self-loathing? Judgment? Shame? Nonacceptance? Pretty much.
I realized when I was about 40 years old, that no one had ever talked to me about loving myself or forgiving myself. Not in a way that spoke to my heart and soul in any kind of life-changing way.
It's my nature to study something when I want to understand it. So I studied self love. I read The Four Agreements. I read A Return to Love. I read Dark Side of the Light Chasers. I read Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters. I read every biography I could find of people who changed from self-hatred to self-love. Addict to free. Worthless to child of God.
It turns out there are many stories of redemption and saving grace.
Like Brené Brown says, it requires daily practice. The tough/cool part is, your daily practice is up to you. It's personal. What ignites your creativity? What connects you to the spirit of Love? What reminds you that your identity does not come from anything that you do or have? What connects you to your sacred self?
So meditate. Pray. Dance. Walk. Sing. Chant.
Get into Warrior pose. Journal. Drum.
Hike. Pedal. Light candles. Lament. Paint.
Play piano. Grow tomatoes. Read a Psalm. Sculpt. Cook.
Gaze at the stars. Cry to the ocean. Surrender to the mountains.
Pray some more.
Daily.
Create a new life by co-creating your days with the spirit of Love. As you do, recognize that you are rebelling against a culture that measures your worth by what you do, what you have and what you look like. Subversive love. My rebel spirit likes that.
Are you with me?
____ ❤ ____
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