The Official Website of Michael Corthell

by Michael Corthell Love's true meaning, as defined by God, has been demoted with common usage in the English language and in our society. Used in advertising for example, love is often confused with infatuation. Infatuation is that 'high' feeling we get when we first 'fall' in love. This kind of 'love' is something that lasts a relatively short time, often less than a year, and unless it transitions to a true deep love, a broken relationship will likely ensue. It is good to note, however, that this type of love is the first stage of a relationship before developing into a mature intimacy and is therefore necessary for mature relationship bonding. ''Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.'' —Lao Tzu Indeed, the true meaning of 'LOVE" has been terribly abused and degraded in today's world. It is used to describe selfish sexual lust, mainly by popular

Before he spoke the words 'let there be light' he thought 'let there be love'. by Michael Corthell The standard definition of love is an unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another. And there is the highest form of love. Interestingly, that kind of love is also defined as Charity which is defined as the type of love God has for mankind. It is also the love we are to show for our neighbor. It embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends, and serves regardless of circumstances or consequences. When we become enlightened we come to understand that love does indeed heal all wounds, but more importantly, we understand that love is the true reason for our existence. King Solomon further describes love this way: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done ag

“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” ― William Shakespeare, ''All's Well That Ends Well'' by Michael Corthell Love all. Do not restrict your love to just a few people, but have your heart open to everyone and give your love without prejudice. Trust a few. People need to realize that there are people out there who are intent on doing evil to you. So don’t just simple trust everyone with a naïve trust. Only trust a few people that you know and whose intentions are pure. Do wrong to none. Never do bad things to anyone. No one, whoever they are, deserves to be harmed by you. No matter what anyone else does, you should always do the right thing, even towards people who have done wrong to you(excepting self-defense of course). Be kind to everyone. One of the most valuable assets a human being can have is trust. It allows for openness, exchange of emotion and ideas. When there is no trust, it becomes very difficult to get anything done. It is truly

 ''Peace is hiding in plain sight...peace can be made only by those who are peaceful, and love can be only be manifested by those who love...look in the mirror.'' Michael Corthell

“There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved. ― George Sand Never mind money, power, and fame, it's love  —   how much you gave and how much you received that counts for anything. Love is the only treasure you take with you when you leave this world. “Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love.” ― Albert Einstein

  “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches No child is born with prejudice and hate in his or her heart. All are born wanting to connect with others. Just as love is learned when children are cherished and nurtured, hate is also learned by messages and cues that are both verbal and nonverbal. As hate is learned, so it can be unlearned. “The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference.” ― Elie Wiesel

  “It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” ― Andre Gide, Autumn Leaves The pain and the weight of life are relieved by love.

Be a Lamp “There is a LIGHT in this world. A healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. We sometime lose sight of this force when there is suffering, and too much pain. Then suddenly, the spirit will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call and answer in extraordinary ways.” ― Richard Attenborough There is an ancient tribal proverb from India. It says, ''Before we can see properly we must first shed our tears to clear the way.''

  by Michael Corthell There are two primary ways of trying to live a good life. The first is living a life of Faith, that is believing in God and the other is living without belief in God. A secondary to this is, of course, being agnostic, which is still living without Faith—by not being committed to the Creator. ''The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.'' —Bertrand Russell Our relationship to the world is colored by whether or not we think there is a creative purpose for our lives. Looking past the theological belief how can we a achieve a good life in a practical, step by step way? Life Plan What do you value most? List all the people and things that you value. Prioritize your list. Take a good amount of time thinking about the things without which you couldn't live without. Determine your moral compass. What are your core values? Freedom, justice, altruism? Kindness, courage? Determine your moral code and ethics.

“Love him and let him love you. Do you think anything else under heaven really matters?”   – James Baldwin In his iconic novel Giovanni’s Room, gay author James Baldwin makes a powerful statement about love. He proclaims that sex and gender don’t matter; all that matters is that two people love each other. Nothing should stand in their way if they have love in their hearts. These words resonated with millions of people who felt like their emotions were invalid because of the gender of the object of their love. With this quote, Baldwin assured them that it didn’t matter because love is love. Equality means more than passing legislation. Equality is won in the hearts and minds of the the people. That's where it really counts.

“What is hell? I maintain that it is the suffering of being unable to love.” ― Fyodor Dostoevsk Everyone has the right to create their own hell as long as they can keep others out of it.  “Maybe this world is another planet’s hell.” ― Aldous Huxley

www.MichaelCorthell.com We create our own hell -- it is the sum of all our decisions (exception: sometimes we are placed there). How do we escape even if we are not the cause? The only thing anyone needs to do in order to escape hell is to love God*, his creation, each other and have faith(be positive). We are to understand that there is one God and that God created all things -- that is it. We play with fire when we claim to love God, but not all his creation. If you hate your neighbor, you hate God and you have arrived in hell. *My definition of what God is an 'all is one' belief. God is all and in all. God manifests itself in every created thing. You are a manifestation of God, as well as your dog, you cat a pine tree and a blade of grass. The spirit of God is omnipresent. All is in one, and one is in all. Of course your version of God may differ. 

“Love only grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others.” ― Brian Tracy Loving all creatures is the greatest gift we can give ourselves. Altruism is an act that rewards itself. “We have so far to go to realize our human potential for compassion, altruism, and love.” ― Jane Goodall, Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating

Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved,  and believes in the goodness in people. What people want, what they really need is kindness shown to them when they feel they don't deserve it. That simple act, of seemingly undeserved consideration, can start a chain reaction of kindness. Nothing so rewarding and important as to make people realize that they are worthwhile. That's how one act of charity can change the world, and put us on the path to peace. “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson Kindness has no religion. Religions are narrow, but kindness is like a wide open sky.

“Intimacy is the capacity to be rather weird with someone - and finding that that's ok with them.” ― Alain de Botton In a committed, loving and intimate relationship two hearts grow together and wrap themselves around each other, so that they spiritually make one heart with one common thought. That's why separation is is so painful. “The opposite of Loneliness is not Togetherness , It's Intimacy” ― Richard Bach

by Michael Corthell Only during the past generation have we discovered that babies need to be held and touched. We now know that they cannot grow and that they will literally fail to thrive unless they share physical and emotional closeness with another human being. Growing up doesn't alter that need either. We are social creatures. ''True marital intimacy depends, in large part, on truth that is lovingly told while laying in bed.'' In a close personal relationship such as marriage, it is 'hurt feelings' that very often set the union toward the divorce cliff and set it crashing to the rocks below. How do the hurt feelings get a foothold? It all starts with the 'illusion of perfection'. ''We are going to live happily ever after!'' This is often said as an end all, because the new bride and groom don't know, or don't understand that any relationship needs to be tended to and cultivated. Time passes and then they beco

''Love is not patronizing and charity isn't about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same -- with charity you give love, so don't just give money but reach out your hand instead.'' ― Mother Teresa 'Who is like God?' When I ask for the gift of charity, I'm not asking for warm, fuzzy feelings toward someone who has injured or taken from me. Rather, what I'm actually asking for is to have my very nature changed, to have my character and constitution transformed to become more and more like God's, so that I actually feel as He would feel and behave as He would behave in any given situation.   ''Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.'' ― Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.