Recently I read the following aphorism inside a Dove dark chocolate wrapper: Love without rules. In the past weeks, this simple statement has inspired wonderful meditations and conversations with friends. In it's simplicity, the statement leaves much room for personal interpretation. To some it speaks of unconditional Love and releasing the expectations we have for our loved ones. To others it gives permission to explore themselves outside society's rules about Love. For me, the statement has been an invitation to let go of my own rules about how I should (or should not) express Love.

As I began meditating and exploring my subconscious ideas of Love, I was surprised to find out just how many rules I have about Love. I quickly realized that my inner "Rules of Love" focused around one primarily goal - protecting myself from being hurt by Love. Even as I type this, I'm laughing at the words "protecting myself from being hurt by Love". I suspect being hurt by Love is much like being crushed by Happiness, being tortured with Peace, or even being stricken with Joy. When faced with such frightening concepts, it's easy to see why so much protection is in order!

My safety rules for Love took into account many comments I've received from others regarding how I love. I'm too slow to love. I'm too quick to love. I love too much. I love too little. My Love is too hot. My Love is too cold. I love too many. I love too few. My Love is too intense. My Love it too distant. I love for too long. I don't love long enough. I give too much in Love. I take too much in Love. I love in too many ways. I love in too few ways. I love in inconsistent ways. I don't love the right way.

From this collection of ideas, I had concluded one very disconcerting thing - Love carefully for it is a dangerous endeavor which inevitably leads to error, judgement, and pain. Ouch! No wonder I've felt increasingly gun shy about falling in Love. No wonder I've felt a need to protect myself from Love. Fortunately, becoming aware of my subconscious rules and beliefs has given me an opportunity to change them, and I am happy to have changed these. Not only were they at odds with my conscious beliefs about Love, but they were impairing my willingness and ability to express Love.

Since releasing these inner rules about Love, I've felt great relief and a growing sense of space inside. I can feel doors that were once closed beginning to open within me. I don't know where this simple exercise will lead me, but I'm grateful to Spirit for leaving this small message for me in such an unlikely place. Love without rules.