"I will greet this day with love in my heart"

When I was about 23 years old, I was introduced to the book titled "The Greatest Salesman in the World" by Og Mandino. That book truly changed my life.

Scroll II is titled "I will greet this day with love in my heart". It is so beautifully written that I wanted include a few excerpts here on Valentine's Day. Take a look at it and see if you are in the habit of applying these principles to your life.

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I do this? Henceforth, will I look on all things with love and I will be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.

Is this how you look at the world?

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I act? I will love all manners of men for each has qualities to be admired even though they be hidden. With love I will tear down the wall of suspicion and hate which they have built round their hearts and in its place will I build bridges so that my love may enter their souls.I will love the ambitious for they can inspire me; I will love the failures for they can teach me. I will love the kings for they are but human; I will love the meek for they are divine. I will love the rich for they are yet lonely; I will love the poor for they are so many. I will love the young for the faith they hold; I will love the old for the wisdom they share. I will love the beautiful for their eyes of sadness; I will love the ugly for their souls of peace.

Is there anything more precious than human life? Og gives great examples of how to love "all manners of men".

• Do you regularly take this perspective?
• If you did would it make a difference in your life?

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I confront each whom I meet? In only one way. In silence and to myself I will address him and say "I Love You". Though spoken in silence these words will shine in my eyes, unwrinkle my brow bring a smile to my lips, and echo in my voice; and his heart will be opened.

This particular part of the scroll changed my life. I was a shy person and very closed off to the world. I put this into practice because no one knew that I was doing it. Silently and to myself I would look at everyone I met and say "I love you." WOW, what a change! People on the elevator simply said 'HI' to me... yes, on the elevator (where people usually just stare at the buttons or numbers.) Be courageous today and put this into practice! Sure it feels weird at first, but this principle is timeless.

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And most of all I will love myself. For when I do, I will zealously inspect all things which enter my body, my mind, my soul, and my heart. Never will I overindulge the requests of my flesh; rather I will cherish my body with cleanliness and moderation. Never will I allow my mind to be attracted to evil and despair; rather I will uplift it with the knowledge and wisdom of the ages.

Never will I allow my soul to become complacent and satisfied, rather I will feed it with meditation and prayer. Never will I allow my heart to become small and bitter rather I will share it and it will grow and warm the earth.

It truly is SOOOO important that you learn to love and value YOU as a unique, irreplaceable individual. Once you are able to do that, you realize that no one can take that away from you. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your permission." What's amazing is, no one can make you feel any emotion without your permission.

Once you love who you are, you will be able to do what you were created to do... share yourself with the rest of the world. You will be able to share your heart so that "it will grow and warm the earth".

Today, on Valentine's Day, choose to love not only your partner or family or friends... choose first to love yourself and then choose to love everyone you meet.

If you'd like to read more of Og Mandino's book, please click the link below.