Although it is not as catchy as the Beatles’ song, Barbara Fredrickson’s scientific research into what she calls Love 2.0 can change your life and bring world peace.
Fredrickson redefines love as”micro-moments of positivity resonance.” Rather than limit love to romantic pursuits characterized by yearning and passion or kinship limited by blood-ties, Love 2.0 encompasses any connection characterized by a flood of positive emotions. With this new definition, we can fall in love hundreds of times a day with a wide variety of others including partners, pets, children, close friends, and strangers. Although Fredrickson claims that you have to physically be with the other person to experience Love 2.0, I beg to differ.
Lately, I’ve been trying to increase the number of positive words I use. I try to say, write, feel, or express “love” as much as I can, whether that be using the word itself, using a {{{Hugs}}} symbol or simply smiling. Sometimes I felt uncomfortable typing “I love you” in comments, tweets, or posts to my BBFs (Blogging Best Friends), but I truly felt a connection that I could only describe as love. The “positivity resonance” I feel with my BBFs is as strong online as it is with close friends in “real life.” Of course, the love for my wife and children exceeds any flood of positive emotions from friends, online or otherwise, but this should not lessen the fact that the love I feel is real.
In fact, for the past few days, I have been having a bit of a tough time with real life friends, yet my BBFs have lifted my spirits with their inspiring words, virtual hugs, and compassionate comments. I’m not going to argue with Fredrickson since she hasn’t, to my knowledge, done any research into online love and friendships. I’m just going to continue to spread the love wherever I go–at home, in my community, and on the internet.
What is even more interesting is that Fredrickson scientifically proved that one could increase one’s capacity for love (measured by what is called “vagal tone”) by doing lovingkindness meditation. So those of us who meditate daily for world peace are actually increasing the amount of love in the world. (You hear that Sunshine, Maddy, Sofia, Eliz, Annie, and Dianne?)
“If every 8 year old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation.” Dalai Lama
I would argue that for, many of us, blogging is a form of lovingkindness meditation. In my daily lovingkindness practice, I silently repeat the phrases, “may all beings be happy and well, may no harm or difficulties come to them, may they live in peace and harmony.” In my daily blogging practice, I often read posts or comments that make me “happy and well,” prevent me from “harm and difficulties,” and increase the “peace and harmony” in my life. That is what we do as bloggers.
In conclusion, blogging/lovingkindness meditation increase our capacity to love. More love equals more peace. Therefore, blogging leads to peace.
Bloggers for Peace is no longer a dream; it is a reality.
Thank you for reading, sharing and/or smiling. I love you guys.
Is blogging a lovingkindness practice for you? Please share.
Related articles
- There’s No Such Thing as Everlasting Love (According to Science) (theatlantic.com)
- Monthly Peace Challenge: Mad Men (everydaygurus.com)
- Casting A Stone for Peace (diaryofahouseelf.wordpress.com)
- give: share peace on your blog (thejolynproject.com)
- Bloggers for Peace–Learning to Fly (sarahneeve.wordpress.com)
- The Word (knockedoverbyafeather.wordpress.com)
- Please Empower A Compassionate Earth (fecthis.wordpress.com)
- Be Kind ( B4 Peace Post) (cornerofconfessions.wordpress.com)
