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Meaning: A Divergent Perspective

Introduction

We live by the meaning we assign to things. Love, truth, freedom—these are words we believe we understand, concepts we hold close, often without questioning the foundation upon which they stand. But what happens when we do?

This series, “Meaning: A Divergent Perspective,” is an invitation to step beyond the familiar, to examine the beliefs we carry, and to ask: Do we own our truth, or has it been given to us? Is love something we possess, or something we release? Does freedom exist in our grasp, or only in the mind?

Through love as belonging, truth as ours, and freedom as choice, these essays challenge the legendary concepts and phrases we repeat without hesitation, breaking them down to reveal what is real, what is imagined, and what simply remains unknown.

This is not an argument—it is an inquiry. There is no requirement for you to agree, or to believe a word I write. I share these as part of a grand journey into the unspoken depths of meaning, where certainty dissolves, and something greater emerges: a perspective not dictated by the world, but chosen by you.

Dare to question. Dare to see differently. Meaning is yours to define.

  1. Love is Belonging: A Philosophical Reflection

    In recounting near-death experiences (NDEs), a common theme emerges: the overwhelming presence of what is described as unconditional love. This love, as NDEers describe it, is perfect, all-encompassing, and unlike anything experienced in life. At its core, it is described as profound acceptance—a return to that which we are…to our essence. This insight reveals a profound truth: love is not merely an emotion but the source of our belonging.

    When we come into life, we are extensions of this essence, a part of the infinite source that unites all existence. Yet, through the constructs of space and time, a sense of separation arises. From this perspective, I become “me,” and you become “you,” creating the illusion of distance from our essential nature. However, this separation is not real; it is a framework that provides perspective. It allows us to observe and reflect, but in truth, we are always immersed in the unity of all that is.

    This perceived distance, however, creates a deep yearning within us—a longing to return to the belonging that defines our essence. This yearning manifests in our drive to connect with groups, tribes, nations, religions, and even individuals. These connections are an attempt to recreate the profound sense of belonging to the source from which we emerge. Fundamentally, we yearn to belong and to be yearned for in return.

    Love, then, is the extension of this sense of belonging to others. It arises when we recognize that the perceived boundaries between “self” and “other” are illusory. When we see that I am you, and you are me—that we are composed of the same elements and are part of the same infinite source—love naturally flows. To love is to belong, and to belong is to love.

    Unconditional love may seem unattainable in a world governed by conditions, attachments, and repulsions. Yet, we can approach it by releasing as many conditions on love as humanly possible. In doing so, we come closer to our source and true nature. Love is proof of our existence, an undeniable force that transcends the tangible and connects us to the infinite.

    Even as we navigate life through the persona shaped by our environment, love reminds us of what is real. It affirms our unity with all that is. In essence, love is belonging—a return to the source, a bridge across the illusion of separation, and the ultimate expression of our shared existence.

    Love can build a bridge between your heart and mine…and don’t you think it’s time?

    Love Can Build a Bridge, The Judds, 1990

    Originally Published on https://akasha111blog.wordpress.com/

    Paula D. Tozer is the author of three books - Saving Your Own Life: Learning to Live Like You Are Dying; An Elegant Mind's Handbook, and Enchanting Treve, a Novel. She is also an actor, singer/songwriter, Creativity Coach, competitive speaker, and leader with Toastmasters, as well as an avid cyclist, hiker, gym rat, and critter lover. The vast majority of her accomplishments have been achieved after the age of 50, demonstrating that It is never too late to be what you truly could have been...

    Paula believes that living fiercely at any age is the way to optimize our time on this side of the grass. She has taken up the mission to inspire and motivate her contemporaries with what she has found that has allowed her to age with elegance, vitality, and most of all, good humor!

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