“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.”

— David Viscott

I recently viewed a poignant video on YouTube and am moved to share an awareness that arose in me as I watched it. The video is a tribute to the power of the words “I love you” being spoken to the viewer by total strangers.

After watching it, I began to realize I was feeling a deep sense of connection to these strangers of diverse ethnicity, age, gender and personality. The empowering thing about the video is that you not only hear the words but you see the face of the person saying the words—their faces say as much as the words do.

As I sat looking into the eyes of each person saying “I love you” (as if only to me), I had to do a quick scan of my own intimacy filter because there was a slight sense of anxiety having complete strangers saying they love me.

How awkward and, at the same time, how extraordinary it felt to hear those words from the lips of people I have never met.

This experience hooked my attention in regard to increasing my ability to love and be loved.

I believe that what we all seek is a deeper experience of both sides of love—giving and receiving. At times we are our own worst enemy because of conditions and qualifications we place on either giving or receiving love.

Speaking the words “I love you” to a camera or hearing the words spoken to us from a computer screen seems less risky than saying or hearing the words face to face.

Yet, as I watched the video, I noticed some people seemed to struggle as they looked directly into the camera and said, “I love you.” Perhaps it was just my perception, but a few people were clearly stretching to get the words out, and their discomfort was obvious by the looks on their faces.

However, each one did it, and you can see a smile sweep across their face, as if they had just recognized a long lost friend.

Perhaps there is a deeper truth in the idea that we are all friends worth exploring. Spiritually speaking, we all are long lost friends on this journey of the soul. Perhaps when we take time to truly recognize each other as fellow sojourners who came from the same place, these three words become the bridge that reconnects us in the moment, reminding us of who we really are.

There is something about witnessing yourself saying the words “I love you” to another person—with no agenda—that is transformative. Likewise, there is something about hearing the words spoken to you by another person—with no agenda—that is equally transformative.

As a result of this video, I have been reminded that the three most important words I could ever say to or hear from another are “I love you,” and it is something we can practice saying and hearing every day.

As a mindfulness practice, take a mirror and look deeply into your own eyes while you say “I love you.” This is more difficult than one might imagine if it is done with clear intention. I invite you to join me for the next week in extending this practice to others by never missing an opportunity to say “I love you” when moved to do so.

Be it in person, on the phone or via e-mail, give it a try. Knowing how the Law of Attraction works, you may want to prepare yourself to be told the same thing many times over. Who knows, it might catch on—wouldn’t that make our world a better place for us all?

I honor Sivan Garr for producing the video “I Love You” and placing it in a public forum for all to enjoy. If you are looking for a way to help prime the pump, go to www.youtube.com/ watch?v=cVQJPeRwKek and prepare to open your heart.

Dennis Merritt Jones is a local spiritual mentor, keynote speaker and author of the book “The Art of Being: 101 Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life.” Contact him at www.DennisMerrittJones.com.