Some years ago when I was married for the second time, I was really struggling. I concluded that I was ill equipped to be a good husband.

When I reached this point, I contacted my longtime mentor and sponsor, Sam. He told me that loving is a principle. What an eye-opening statement! So much so that I embarked on a journey to learn how to love. What a journey it has been.

When I finally reached a point where I thought I figured it out, I phoned Sam and told him, “I got it! I figured it out how to love her.” His reply was, “Good! Now, see what you can do to extend it to your daughters.” Again, Sam’s lesson of love as a principle came into play. He said that you can't apply it in one place, it has to extend outward. So I started working on that with my daughters. When I thought I had it figured out with my daughters, I phoned Sam again and said, “I got it!” He - again - asked me to extend it to someone else.

Do you see the pattern?

Sam’s exact reply was, “It ain’t love if it’s not going everywhere.”

All of the great masters and teachers over time have told us that love is easy when it’s familiar or familial.

If love is a principle, then loving is a practice. And the best way to learn how to put this practice and principle into play is to learn how to love in places and with people who are really hard to act loving toward.

So what does that mean for you? Well, I suggest you pick the person who is the least likely for you to love and that's where you try and practice loving.

It may break your heart first, but it will change your life, and it’ll be worth it.

You'll have to trust me on that.