Everybody, Always (2018) chronicles best-selling author Bob Goff’s inspiring one-man mission to explain Jesus’s message of love and compassion into everyday practice. That, as he himself admits, isn’t always easy. Life is full of setbacks, obstacles, and difficult people. But it is possible. By staying true to his beliefs and finding courage when the going gets difficult, Goff strives to lead an exemplary life of love.
About the author:
Bob Goff is the founder of Love Does, an international NGO committed to helping women and children in war zones. Active in Uganda, Somalia, and Iraq, the charity builds schools and safe houses in some of the world’s most dangerous countries. Trained as a lawyer, Goff is an honorary consul for the Republic of Uganda in the United States. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Love Does.
Love is the most potent force in the whole universe:
Nothing is as strong and beautiful as genuine love. It charges us with such passion that has a way of keeping our souls alive.
Everyone needs love – no matter his age, social class, skin color…
It is best portrayed in children who grow up without love. They always end up as a sort of problem to society. On the other hand, studies show that only those who get nurtured by their parents’ love and care grow to be valuable and respectful citizens in the world.
No doubt that adults need love as well. Employees give their best when they get to work in an environment filled with love. Also, couples who live in a healthy and loving relationship are proven to be much more productive than emotionally abusive relationships. The point is, we all need love, and the good thing is, you can easily give love to deserving people. What about that criminal that robbed your house and abused your mother in front of you? Fifteen years later, and they caught him. What would you do?
It’s a tough one.
It is an extreme question, but that’s when it gets hard to love someone. We find it difficult to love those who we don’t understand or disapprove of. However, Jesus said we should love everyone, even our enemies. He also said that his most faithful followers are those who love even the ones that seem unlovable – just like him.
If we are honest, this is something we can do naturally. But we can start small. Love isn’t, as others say, something we fall into – falling in love – it is something we become. That’s why you start small by showing some kindness to people you usually wouldn’t. The more you do that, the more it grows on you.
Sure, love might not solve all our problems, but it can supply us with enough inner strength to keep pushing.
Love is so strong; it can bring life into dead situations. And that’s why this book is all about diving deeper into the potency of this beautiful emotion. In this summary, you’ll learn how to love everyone, always.
Don’t let shame run your relationships. Forgive yourself, then move on:
It is not a possible thing not to make mistakes in any of our relationships. We will all mess up at some point, especially with the ones closest to our hearts. We tend to hurt those we love the most.
This happens because we tend to be fully vulnerable and ourselves when loved ones surround us. Those mistakes are not avoidable, so we have to learn how to forgive ourselves and the ones who eventually hurt us.
Sometimes, we forgive others much earlier than ourselves when we hurt someone we love and respect. Shame finds its way in; you feel bad about what you did and start drifting away from those people without knowing.
When we do this, we’re holding on to the past and torturing ourselves much more than necessary. Whatever crime you commit, know in your heart that there is always room for forgiveness, and it begins with you forgiving yourself. You can deal with those you offended and not give you a chance as long as you don’t clutch into the past yourself.
If you do something wrong, apologize. Don’t stop there, though; forgive yourself as well because no one is perfect. You will never be free of the past unless you do that.
Let go of judgmental opinions and allow love to flow from your heart:
when we meet someone for the first time, we size them according to what we see or hear about them.
You can’t treat an executive businessman the same way you would a homeless one. It’s because the executive is well-dressed, looking all shiny and bright. He probably knows his way around words and can come up with a pretty great conversation. However, the homeless man is shabbily dressed and doesn’t speak.
As long as you see people in the lens of your five senses, you’ll never learn to love a particular class of people.
You should know not to judge by sight or social class. You hold love within your heart, and you should show it to anyone worthy.
“The value of our lives is measured by our capacity to love others.”
-Wayne Gerard Trotman
Begin with what you have, from where you are:
You don’t have to have everything to be the kind of person who shows concern and love to anyone. For example, if you’re waiting for life to turn upside for you and to become a millionaire to help those in need, you would be ridding them with the little help you can offer right now. You never know; sometimes, something as small as 5$ can go a long way in providing someone with something to live better.
Money is an example of the many times we limit ourselves to things we don’t have. All you have to do is to start from where you are and grow from there.
“We’re not held back by what we don’t have, but by what we don’t use.”
-Bob Goff
As of today, you can help put a smile on someone’s face and be a source of courage. You have much more power than you think you do. Don’t let life make you resentful and take away your opportunity to give a hand to those in need.
Those who are becoming love have a way of discovering the best in everyone:
Everyone on the planet has his fair share of life’s difficulties. Yes, some people go through unimaginable things. But we all share one thing for sure; we all make mistakes and have something to deal with.
Try not to be someone who always brings up others’ past mistakes and how they failed to do something. Instead, use your mind and eyes to see the good in people and praise them for it.
The thing is about human psychology is that people tend to run from those who never see good in them. However, they get closer to ones that don’t spend their whole time criticizing them.
The way of love is always to highlight these positive qualities in people and compliment them for it. When you get their approval on the emotional level, you can then tell them some of the things you don’t necessarily like about them.
No matter where you stand in your life, appreciate those around you.
How to deal with criticism? Your response to criticism has the strength to make or mar the situation. So, calm down and think clearly before doing or saying anything you’ll regret.
The way of love is the best. People are created to live and thrive in a place of love. Your love road is not a smooth one, but once you get there, it’s going to be worth it. Apologize for the mistakes you do and forgive yourself in the way. Love everyone because everybody deserves love, always.
