“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” ― Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu has more brilliant quotes than I know what to do with, but this one is new to me. I like it. No, I don’t just like it, I LOVE it! Many of us are scared to love. Hey, I’m not afraid to admit it, I know I am. It’s scary, you’re vulnerable, you’re exposed, the chance of pain and heartache is 50/50. But…it’s COURAGEOUS! It takes courage to put yourself in a scary, vulnerable, exposed situation with potential pain and heartache as an outcome, but that courage you gain in the process can never be taken away from you. Yes, the love of others makes us stronger, and allowing yourself to love and be loved is one of the hardest things we can do in this world (I think at least.). So, although we may put ourselves out there and get burned it’s the putting ourselves out there that defines us, that makes us stronger and more courageous.

Find and get rid of the cowardly lion within yourself and find your courage, because it has been within you all along. We are all capable of loving deeply, so why not? You never know what the outcome will be until you try and what you will ultimately learn in the end.