We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known, and when we honor the spiritual connection that grows from that offering with trust, respect, kindness and affection.

Love is not something we give or get; it is something that we nurture and grow, a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists within each one of them – we can only love others as much as we love ourselves.

-Brene' Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection

WEEK FOUR'S THEME: I AM CONNECTED

Who are you? At the core of your being - who are you? Steve Austin's weekly affirmation #4 is all about being connected. When we are connected to God, others, and (most importantly) our selves, it is hard to feel alone. Thomas Merton said, "“Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone - we find it with another.”

Welcome to Week Four of Steve Austin's weekly affirmation episode. Each week, this will be a mix of affirmations, meditation, contemplation, and prayer. Steve hopes it encourages you to get silent, look deep into your soul, below the surface of all the noise and find out who you are at the core of your being.

If you have a suggestion for this weekly feature, please email Steve at [email protected] today. If you'd like to suggest a topic or request Steve's perspective on a particular word, please reach out!

JOIN THE EXCLUSIVE #ASKSTEVEAUSTIN FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR AS LITTLE AS $1 PER MONTH! DETAILS AT PATREON.COM/IAMSTEVEAUSTIN

Music provided by Tony Anderson. Check out Tony's website here. Tony says, "What I write is simply an overflow of interactions I have with my own brokenness. Some of it comes in dreams - other times it emerges from seasons of sorrow, humiliation, warfare, joy, and pain. In each piece, I am audibly sharing my heart, and it is the highest privilege to hear from people who resonate with it." Music from the score of "The Heart of Man". Get information on the film here.