Does love sometimes seem like a maze of tangles and brambles, with treacherous caves and deep sea trenches where sharks lurk waiting to grab unsuspecting swimmers? Do you dream instead of it being a garden of delights, with all manner of sensory stimulation in which you could be your most adventurous and intrepid self? Would a map of love-land be helpful? A guide for many in their personal and professional lives, Rob Jacoby has written a book entitled The Map To Love: How To Navigate The Art Of The Heart.
He refers to himself and his book in this way: “Psychotherapist, artist, survival instructor, and author Rob Jacoby draws upon all four areas of
his life and experience to offer us The Map to Love: How to Navigate the Art of the Heart, a life-giving perspective on love, fulfillment, healing, and successfully navigating the complex human emotional landscape. His twenty year career helping people from all walks of life, especially young people suffering from extreme emotional problems, gives this book its lived-in authority. His passion for creation, particularly music and painting, drives the spontaneity and rhythm of its prose and presentation. In collaboration with world renowned artist Brian MacGregor, the result is a visually and intellectually stunning masterpiece on the topic of LOVE.”
“The real question,” Jacoby poses is “Are you living in love?” Hmmmm. I would like to think that I am but there are certainly times in which I am feeling as if it is like the Emerald City at the end of the Yellow Brick Road that at first appears far away and then closer and then distances itself again and then disappears into the mist like Brigadoon. In between are the poppy fields that have me plunged into the sleep of forgetfulness. The truth is, that love itself doesn’t move….I do. I come close and then dance away, wondering if I am a graceful enough dance partner, fearing that I will metaphorically step on toes. I am much more of an improvisational dancer than I am ball room, salsa or zydeco. Such is it in relationships as well. Today as I was having lunch with two new friends, we were having this very conversation at my favorite office away from home called The Zen Den; aptly titled for such philosophical meanderings. All three of us are ‘seasoned women’ with a great deal of life experience behind us and still many exciting adventures before us. In relationship we pondered how we could be powerful without being overpowering and how we could allow men to ‘lead the dance’ and trust them enough to do it safely, since we have been so accustomed to being our own choreographers. Learning by doing seemed to be the answer. Testing the waters, as well as trusting ourselves and our own discernment to choose healthy partners who are doing their own personal growth and healing work. Loving ourselves enough to call into our lives those who love themselves as well.
In my upcoming interview with Rob who will be my guest on It’s All About Relationships on February 28th from 8-9 pm est, we will be exploring these concepts as well as the impact of positive psychology, authenticity and living in the moment. Tune in and tell your friends.
Written by Edie Weinstein
Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW (Bliss Mistress) is a colorfully creative journalist and interviewer, internationally known transformational speaker, licensed social worker, interfaith minister, Bliss coach and the author of The Bliss Mistress Guide To Transforming The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary. Over the past 25 years, she has interviewed such notables as Jack Canfield, Marianne Williamson,Dan Millman, Shirley MacLaine, Ram Dass, Ben & Jerry and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She is a regular contributor to Beliefnet, Elephant Journal, Wisdom Magazine, The Whirling Blog, Identity Magazine and Bellesprit.
