By now you've heard me say over and over again that the first step to true love is self love. It is important to have a good sense of self and to develop a healthy dose of self esteem. Once you have done the hard work to accept and love yourself just the way you are... chances are you'll be ready to move on and seek the love of another person. The Course in Miracles teaches us that there is no such thing as a "special love", only one unconditional love. Yet, we are compelled to partner up and share our lives with another person as we walk through the joys and pain of life. So, how can you find that person? That's what I'll be talking about in Soulism 8 and then I'll move on to a playlist of some great love songs. I close with a soothing heart chakra meditation meant to bring more happiness into your life! I hope you enjoy!

Playlist:

Lecture

My Love is Your Love – Whitney Houston

Best of My Love- The Emotions

Song For You- Herbie Hancock featuring Christina Aguilera

Holding Back the Years- Simply Red

Let’s Get Lifted- John Legend

A Love So Fine- Blackbyrds

That’s the Way of the World- Earth Wind and Fire

Meditation

It's almost that time... the time for lovers...Valentine's Day! But whether you'll be enjoying the day of flowers and candy with your loved one or if you'll be celebrating your single status... I'd like to encourage you to love, honor and respect yourself.

You know how it goes "you can't love anyone else until you first love yourself". In this episode of Soulism Sounds we'll explore self love, listen to some cool love songs and end with a guided meditation that is meant to open up your heart center to... what else... LOVE.

Opening Talk - Danielle Ricks

My Funny Valentine - Collaboration

I Love Me Some Him - Toni Braxton

Love is Contagious -Taja Sevelle

The Look of Love - Issac Hayes

A Love of My Own - AWB

Send One Your Love - Stevie Wonder

Love You Just Because - Anita Baker

Love - Musiq Soulchild

I’m in Love - Kem

The Greatest Love of All –Whitney Houston

Closing Meditation - Danielle Ricks

I never question the power of love. But, I have learned that the greatest you know is the love of self. By far, self-love is the thing that makes all the other loves in your life possible. Love may come to you in many ways via many people but the constant love of your life will be your love of your life, of yourself, of your joy. It’s not always easy getting to that point. In fact, we go through a love of loves gained and loves lost before we can come to the conclusion that… to coin a Whitney Houston song… “Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all”. Well, between here and there a lot of love songs will have to carry us through. Here are some songs that speak to all kinds of affairs of the heart. Enjoy!

Playlist:

Power of Love -Stephanie Mills

Living All Alone -Phyllis Hyman

Love Ballad -Jeffery Osborne

Any Love -Luther Vandross

Devotion -Earth Wind & Fire

My Love -Jill Scott

Love Calls -Kem

Is it Love -Graham Central Station

I Try -Angela Bofill

I’ll be there -The Jackson 5

So... how do you mend a broken heart? I’ve been getting a lot of emails asking me this question so I thought I’d dedicated this volume of Soulism Sounds to moving from heartache to happiness. I have had my share of love’s ups and downs and I’m going to share with you what I’ve learned. Here are the highlights: You can’t rush the healing process, you need time to feel a series of emotions, you need to socialize (but not date), give back to others and enjoy your life to the fullest. But, most of all... you will get over it and learn to love again.

In this podcast I hope that through my talk on love, my playlist of love songs and my closing meditation I can give you some tools to help you navigate through this thing called love... let the healing begin!

Playlist:

The Way – Jill Scott

All About Love- Earth Wind and Fire

All This Love –DeBarge

Day Dreaming –Aretha Franklin

Been So Long –Anita Baker

Hope that we can be together soon – Miki Howard

We’re Still Friends – Donny Hathaway

Never Can Say Goodbye – The Jackson 5

At Your Best –The Isley Brothers

Do you remember the last time you were "in" love? Maybe you're in love right now. Well, in this fourth installment of Soulism Sounds I’ve done an extended talk on the concept of falling in love. Is it real? Is it an illusion? I don't claim to have all the answers but let's explore the possibilities together. Oh, and let's not forget the music!!! I’ve followed my talk with a playlist of songs that are dedicated to that wonderful, horrible, sad, happy, traumatic, lovely, crazy thing called love. Whether you are in love, out of love, or are somewhere in between this volume of Soulism Sounds should speak to your heart. By the way, if you like my podcasts you can subscribe right here on my page or you can go to iTunes and download it from there. Enjoy!

Playlist

Trouble Sleeping –Corinne Baily Rae

Time Will Reveal – DeBarge

Can’t Take my Eyes Off of You- Lauryn Hill

Ain’t Nobody Like You –Miki Howard

I’ve Got so Much to Give –Barry White

Lifetime -Maxwell

Feels So Good- Razah

Love is Stronger than Pride –Sade

Love… and all those good feeling are actually good for you! Don’t believe me… think about the people who you love. Think about how you feel when they walk into a room. These feelings are so good… directly AND unconsciously, that we would be lost without them. Studies have shown that having a good marriage, relationship, or just one close friend cuts the risk of mortality by a third. So, not only does love feel good… it’s good for you.

This podcast is dedicated to L.O.V.E. and all those lovely, joyous, crazy feelings that come to life through song. Enjoy!!!

Playlist

Opening Talk- Danielle Ricks

Knocks Me Off my Feet- Stevie Wonder

The Ingredients of Love- Angie Stone

You Put a Move on my Heat- Tamia

Power Of Love- Stephanie Mills

I Have A Song- Eric Roberson

The Vision of Love- Mariah Carey

Caught up in the Rapture- Anita Baker

So Amazing- Beyonce & Stevie Wonder

Adore- Prince

True Love- Kem

Guided Meditation- Danielle Ricks

Music does wonders to alleviate stress and lighten a heavy heart. A countless number of songs have been dedicated to the act of love. So many of these songs speak to how we can lose ourselves in someone else. But, the truth of the matter is that while this concept sounds good in theory we really shouldn’t equate our entire self worth on another person. This podcast pays homage to those love songs that call for complete surrender and speak to obsessive love. At the end of the playlist you’ll be guided through a relaxation and meditation technique to unwind from a busy day and FIND your center... rather than yourself. Enjoy!

Playlist

Opening Talk- Danielle Ricks

Breath Again- Toni Braxton

Have You Ever- Brandy

I’m So Into You- Peabo Bryson

My Endless Love-Diana Ross and Lionel Richie

Hopeless- Dionne Farris

With You I’m Born Again- Billy Preston and Syreeta

Can’t Get Over You- Frankie Beverly and Maze

You’re the Best Thing – Gladys Knight and the Pips

Emotions- The Bee Gees

Loves Taken Over- Chante Moore

The Greatest Love of All- Whitney Houston

Guided Meditation- Danielle Ricks

I don't know about you but whenever I've been down and out... or up and happy for that matter... I've turned to music. When I'm blue... I find a song that shares my feelings and validates what I'm going through. As time passes, I'll come across a song that helps lift me up. Then, there are those times when I have nothing but joy in my heart and it is music, once again, that helps me celebrate.

Nothing rides the waves of highs and lows like a romantic relationship and when it comes to relationships, there have been countless songs dedicated to the act of love. This podcast is the first installment into a look at romance and how music plays embrace the good times and struggle through the bad. As with each episode, we'll end with a healing, guided meditation to relax and unwind.

Playlist

-Talk by Danielle with music from Listening Room by Jenjii

-Love me in a Special Way by El DeBarge

-For the Love of You by The Isley Brothers

-What You Won’t Do for Love by Bobby Caldwell

-Fairy Tales by Anita Baker

-Lately by Stevie Wonder

-Like a Star by Corinne Bailey

-How do You Mend a Broken Heart by Al Green

-Be Ok by Chrisette Michele

-No More Rain by Angie Stone

-Just Fine by Mary J Blige

-Guided Meditation by Danielle with music from

Because of You by Collaboration