I'd like to talk about an interesting quote that came up in this month's podcast episode.

“There is already enough love in the world.”

What an interesting thought, especially in a world that can seem so bent towards hatred. My ability to love seems to be contingent on the fact that the other person believes and thinks the same way I do. But that’s not love for others, that’s simply love for self. “I love you if you are like me” is just another way of saying, “I love me more than anyone or anything else.”

I think self-love is great.

I also think selfless love is equally great.

If there is truly already enough love in the world, then perhaps I don’t have to trade loving myself for loving you. Perhaps I can do both. Furthermore, I can love you even if you don’t love the things I do or think the way I do.

What a concept.

I think Enneagram Type Twos, at their best, really embody this kind of love. They are supportive, energetic, and encouraging. If you have someone in your life who is constantly checking in on you, asking how your life is going, and giving high-fives for something as simple as getting out of bed, odds are they are a Type Two.

The challenge for the Type Two is when they feel the love they’re giving isn’t enough. They can burn out thinking they must continually give support, help, advice, or encouragement in order to maintain a healthy relationship. It’s exhausting. And it's not true.

Whether you’re a Type Two, or you relate to this exhaustion around keeping everyone in your life happy, my prayer for you is that you would rest in the idea that there is already enough love in the world.

Here are some indicators that you may not be resting in this fact:

• You feel unappreciated for the things you do for others
• You say yes when actually want to say no
• You fear the other person will be angry or mad at you if you don’t do enough for them
• You feel responsible for the wellbeing of others
• You regularly put your wants and needs on the back burner to help others

If you said yes to any of the statements below, take heart. You are not the only one who struggles with this. Check out this month’s podcast episode to hear how Ben and Sarah manage a healthy approach to loving people. You’ll be glad you did!

Here's a peek at this episode:

[01:34] What I love most about my job is the people that I get to work with. We work really hard, we play hard and throughout all of it we care for each other.

[01:43] I think you just gave the textbook Type Two answer and I love every bit of it. What do you like about your work?

[02:01] One of the cool parts that I really like about my job, there's kind of two. One is really celebrating the big and the little accomplishments of my students and their families and then kind of the tie with that, the relationships that I've been able to build with my families and our staff members across our campus just over the years and getting to build those deep relationships with people.

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