Originally, I had not included the essence of love in my writings, as it seemed that love was an understood and practiced principle; when the real purpose of the book was to re-introduce other basics, which had either been forgotten or ignored in the progress of our modern, technological society. But the more I thought about it, the more I believed that, as the family is the beginning of all life's instruction, then love is the purpose and origin from which stems all of life's, behavioural essences.
       So let me start by saying that love is the reason, the way and the natural basis for implementing and ultimately sustaining many of the essences in living within the spirit of life.
       As I already explained these basic ingredients are first learnt and practiced within a secure, loving, family environment. Outside influences will permeate this learning experience throughout life, but the basis will be set through the family's, loving authority and tutorial examples. A child's, parentally-developed outlook and inner character will ultimately be their source of instruction and subsequent input to the way they, in turn, will act and react within society, whether politically, commercially, personally or socially.
       As I will continually say throughout this book, the origin is the family, and the best initiation is the traditional two parents, mum and dad, family. This is where love has its foundation and profound influence on young minds. And, where the loving interaction of the male and female species, as a family unit, is best exemplified. It is also important to note, as in the chapter on Discipline and Respect, that the beautiful balance of the mother and father relationship is paramount in effectively teaching the spirit to living life and successfully establishing its undeniable and indispensable essences.
       It is so important to establish these fundamental elements of living life's spirit, with a correct attitude, as these codes of conduct and moral standards are foremost in the building of our children's characters. Further still, if this process of learning and setting an example is done without love then we have accomplished nothing.
       By looking at just one of life's essences, discipline, we can see how love has an influence on its implementation. If you discipline your child and do it without a basis of love then you are using the wrong type of discipline; for discipline without love could well scar their young and, at that time in their life, fragile personalities. Furthermore, a child requires both parental disciplines to be applied with love as the foundation. By this, I mean they need both the strict loving discipline of the father and the compassionate loving discipline of the mother. Each one is vital to the other and alternately provides an appropriate balance to a child's character.
       This combined love, of strictness and compassion, substantiates a meaningful base from which the family unit can work. It should be the foundation for the reason to impart the spirit of life's knowledge. It is also the manner, with love, in which you, as a parent, enforce your teachings. And likewise, it is the underlying justification in adhering to these standards and moral codes of conduct, through not only discipline of the children, but a self-discipline.
       Once this basic, natural love is entrenched in a child's life, it can be a fail-safe reference of support when requiring control of your child in their inquisitive adolescence. Moreover, it serves as a guiding, pilot light for the sometimes, additionally-boisterous behaviour of the male species during their informative years.
       But just loving your child alone will not assist in establishing these standards. Although, love really does conquer all, it should be used primarily as the foundation stone on which all the other essences of living with a spirit of life are built.
       As well, you should never feel reticent in showing your love. By showing love towards your children you are, inadvertently, teaching them the art of love and affection. And by displaying love, mingled with all of the spirit of life's behavioural standards and codes of conduct, you are building the all-powerful 'love of oneself' within the child's character.
       Children will automatically be heavily influenced by their parent's implementation of the loving disciplines found within the spirit of life, disciplines of responsibility, loyalty, accountability, honesty etc.
       Ultimately that influence, by a child's underlying acceptance, combined with your parental love, will stand as an ameliorator for life's difficulties . the establishing of a child's character. In other words, if a child has learnt to use the essences of living with a correct spirit of life to rectify a situation, through a behavioural discipline previously taught (with a blend of parental love), then he or she will automatically build a love of one's own self. The accompanying growth of internal fortitude, a strength of character, in the child's personality, will reflect in their subsequent outlook on life in general, and be beneficial in their overcoming of life's problems.
       But the child who is defective in these moral standards, and lacks the example of natural love, will use anti-social means to improve or correct their circumstances. Without an inner strength they symptomatically feel frustrated with situations beyond their knowledge or self-control, and revert to unacceptable behaviour, such as force, lying, stealing, cheating etc, as a way out of trouble. They have no grounding in self-worth or the worth of another, and he or she can never, and I mean never, have a healthy outlook of themselves. A child must have a strength of character to be able to deal with life's good and bad situations, and they will require more than just their personality. Personality only allows a child to display his or her personable nature, whether it be moody, happy or serious. By developing character within our children they are better equipped to cope with not only their personality but others'. A child's personality will need a healthy dose of character (the spirit of life's controlling essences) for it to be able to deal with all of life's predicaments.
       As well, you do no favours by spoiling your children either. Your children will learn wrong values if given all they want, when they want. It is far better to give them what they need, and that need is, through your display of parental love, to instruct and inspire them in the essentials to living a healthy and proper spirit of life.
       Likewise, the strength of love should never be underestimated. It is the umbilical cord that binds and stabilises a family. No matter what may happen there is always true love, waiting, for the prodigal child.