It’s only natural, isn’t it? We don’t want negativity. We want peace, happiness, joy of life, and love. But do I create joy of life by trying to remove negativity? In my experience, mostly it just leads to more negativity…

Telling negative person not to be negative certainly doesn’t help. Even only ignoring negativity can make things worse. Thinking “I love everyone I meet” doesn’t lead to love if it is being said to suppress part that does not love everyone.

The only thing that does it is love itself. I don’t think love removes or ignores anything at all! Love just is. Love doesn’t fight those who fight. Love doesn’t turn its back on them either. Love embraces battlefield. Love embraces everyone and everything.

Which brings me back to where we started: Boy, would I love to say: “I love everyone I meet.” Only it wouldn’t be completely true. Cause pretty often I just can’t feel that love.

So… So what if I say... it’s OK... My negativity is here to stay. Like a little rock inside of me.

But then... Love is here to stay too! It’s like air, all over, and within me too. (If I let it in, that is. If I don’t stop breathing.)

If I don’t hide rock, love will find it. And love doesn’t want to remove it at all. It loves that rock! (love just can’t help loving, you know).

The rock can feel that... Little by little, without knowing it, rock will feel it so much... ... it will become love itself...

If you too have a rock inside you (maybe it's not a rock, it's just something that you don’t like)... Don’t hide it from yourself. Don’t ignore it. Feel it. Feel it for as long as it takes. Give it your love and attention.

Then listen to some loving music (like New Age Music) and take a walk. Neither music nor nature will try to change you. They’ll embrace you. That’s just way it is. Let them love every single part of you.

But, you might say, I can’t possibly remember to be open all time, and just to accept and love my negativity!

Well, you could work with an affirmation like: "I love my negativity too"

But you don’t have to, darling! Don’t worry! YOU ARE ALL RIGHT!

P.S. I still use that affirmation software! I just do it in a different way. I'll tell you about that some other time...

A touch can indeed tame a wild animal. But can it tame and soften a disturbed child? A study shows that children who have not been hugged enough have a tendency to be violent and aggressive compared to those who receive hug more often.

Perhaps, there is more to hug and touch than just release of endorphins.

A touch provides comfort in a freezing night. It makes us feel secure because it unites us with an affectionate, loving, and feeling human being. The warmth it brings is better than warmth a fireplace can provide.

A touch shields us from worries of today because of confidence it brings. Like internet, it allows high-speed access to another soul.

When my wife hugs me at night, I can feel that all my aches and concerns of day disappear instantly. I feel refreshed and transformed. I feel recharged — a dynamo ready to capture dreams and to take risks. When I come home after a full day’s work and my kids hug me, I feel an immediate relief. I then celebrate joyfully.

A touch makes body aversive to stress. Indeed, touch is best remedy we need to own and claim forever — and it’s free.

Dr. Michael G. Rayel, author of First Aid to Mental Illness (Finalist, Reader’s Preference Choice Award 2002), has pioneered the CARE approach as a first aid for mental health. As an expert and an award-winning author, Dr. Rayel has appeared on radio and prominent newspapers.